New internet tax

[ectoraige]

PCs that run Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate are sold with a TV tuner installed.

TV tuner card

You're refering to a subset of PCs with tuner cards so, not all PCs. Yes, TV Tuner cards would be covered, as I believe they already were under existing legislation.

[dennehym]

Stochastic Geometry

Is the reasoning behind this correct?

Does this thread need to be merged with this earlier one on the same topic?
http://www.politics.ie/media/66085-g...v-licence.html

[dennehym]

Nope, it makes assumptions about the definition of a broadcasting service.
...
Somebody treats legislation as loose English and comes to the wrong conclusion. Aren't blogs great?

As pointed out in the comments and on the boards.ie thread and on the slashdot article's comments:

As pointed out in the boards.ie thread, the Minister disagrees :

The RTE Player is not an Internet Service in that it is a Timeshift service derived from a programme that was Broadcast . That is the opinion the minister has.

There's also more detail in the boards.ie thread on how the various definitions in the bill mean that the bit you quoted does not work the way you'd think it would work. As you said yourself, you have to read the whole thing.

[Andrew49]

You're refering to a subset of PCs with tuner cards so, not all PCs. Yes, TV Tuner cards would be covered, as I believe they already were under existing legislation.

My mistake - I though ALL PCs came with TV Tuner cards - Oh well back to Kelly

[MsAnneThrope]

I have a TV license so I assume I'm not going to be charged extra for having 2 computers that would be capable of showing tv? Or are the sleazebags considering something extra/separate for computers?

[dennehym]

I have a TV license so I assume I'm not going to be charged extra for having 2 computers that would be capable of showing tv? Or are the sleazebags considering something extra/separate for computers?

1. It's not law yet, though it's in the Seanad report stage
2. The Minister can make an Order exempting computers from this, though I've not seen anything that says that's his plan (and it's a bad plan, just exempt them in the Bill)
3. The TV licence is a per-premesis one, so no, if you have a TV licence this won't affect you.... unless of course you have a laptop/netbook/iPhone/etc that you take into your car (that's another licence please) or the office (that's another licence, but your boss pays for it) or anywhere else (I don't think you need a licence for it when you're outdoors though)

Still waiting on a reply from an email to the Minister asking what his intentions are here...

[Andrew49]

You do not require a television licence to watch television on your computer or mobile phone. However, you do require a licence if the computer is used together with any other apparatus to receive a signal.

Citizens Information



No mention here of where the advertising revenue goes.

[dennehym]

Andrew, that's the current legislation - the OP was about the new proposed legislation currently in report stage with the Seanad.

[Mr.De-Regulation]

I cant disagree, since you havent told us what it is.

[Factorem]

Mary McAleese is about to sign off on the Surveillance Bill, what makes anyone think this bill will be any different?