Written Answers - Community Television.
Mary Harney
Question:
19
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
the Government's proposals for the implementation of the commitment to allow competition between community television deflection systems and existing MMDS franchise holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3751/95]
Micheál Martin
Question:
35
Mr. Martin
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
the timescale involved in allowing competition between community television deflection system and existing MMDS franchise holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3763/95]
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:
40
Mr. B. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
when he will introduce a temporary licence for South Coast Community Television; and on what frequency will it be introduced.
[2972/95]
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:
190
Mr. B. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
the impositions that will be placed on community television groups once a temporary licence has been issued.
[2976/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 35 and 40 and 190 together.
The issue of competition in multi-channel television is a problem that I would like to be able to solve immediately, but Deputies will understand that there are certain difficulties to which there are no easy solutions and a fully satisfactory resolution may take some time.
The first of these difficulties is that there are a limited number of frequency channels available for the transmission and reception of television programmes. We are subject to international restrictions in what we can do. If you try to overcrowd these channels then picture quality will suffer and interference will increase. This would happen to every broadcast programme if I were to allow unplanned access to these channels.
There are of course certain channels in the broadcasting bands that are not currently in use, but my freedom of choice here is limited by the fact that these have been allocated for some time under broadcasting policy to improvement of the existing RTE services and for use by the planned Telefís na Gaeilge and independent channels. Broadcasting policy is, of course, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Deputies will be aware that his Department will shortly be bringing forward a Green Paper on broadcasting and I intend to ensure that it reflects my concerns in the area of multi-channel competition.
A further difficulty is that legal proceedings are, in fact, still pending and that they address a number of fundamental issues in this area, particularly in relation to Southcoast Community Television.Deputies will appreciate that until these proceedings are resolved I am constrained in what I can say.
As to the question of a temporary licence for the Southcoast Community TV, I can say that since the decision of the High Court in effect allows Southcoast to continue in operation pending a full hearing of the case, no interim licence from me is, in fact, required to enable them to continue in operation. Until such time as we have resolution of the law case, I am perfectly happy to leave the present arrangements in place. This will allow Southcoast Community Television operate freely until the matter is resolved by the courts.
The Deputies will be aware that in the policy agreement,A Government of Renewal, a decision was announced that, subject to the resolution of current legal proceedings, and to good frequency management the Government would seek to allow competition in the area of multi-channel television services in this country.
In view of my desire to expedite possible changes, I am having the entire matter of multi-channel television services closely examined within my Department. It would be my intention to exploit whatever opportunities may be presented by new technology, in particular by the advent of digital technology, to facilitate competition and community involvement in this area.
I am aware that technical standards are being developed at European level although standards for terrestrial broadcasting may not be ready for some time. In the longer term, this will increase the number of programmes available, but such a development will have to be accommodated during a transition period in the channels now available alongside the existing system. In line with the commitment in the Government's programme, we are willing to go with that new technology to allow a wider choice of programmes wherever possible and particularly to allow community involvement in relation to local programming.
I know that digital technology is of particular interest to Southcoast Community Television and I am especially anxious to explore such possibilities with them. Although I am advised that the time scale for this new development is not yet certain, I have asked officials of my Department to meet Southcoast, without prejudice to any legal proceedings to ascertain their views as to how digital technology might assist them and to help them as much as possible in that regard.
It is of course too early at this stage to speculate on the nature or conditions that would apply to any future licensing arrangements.
