Having considered the matter afresh in recent months I am satisfied that MMDS is the only technical means that can be licensed to provide multi-channel choice to areas where cable service is not available if something approaching the same variety of television services as is available on cable is to be provided.
As the Deputy is aware, progress with the establishment of MMDS in a number of areas had, until the latter part of 1991, been delayed by the planning process. MMDS systems are now operational or are under construction in nine of the ten franchised areas of the country. The provision of MMDS service to specific areas within the MMDS franchise is a matter for the licensed operator concerned. If it emerges that satisfactory service is not possible in an area from a licensee's primary transmitter, technical solutions for the provision of service unique to each such area will have to devised by the licensee with consequent unavoidable delays in the provision of service to these areas.