"Clint Wolff (VAX collector)" wrote:
> Ummm.... Why do you need a license to operate a TV in the UK?
It's semi-historical. For the longest time UK viewers could only
watch the BBC (BBC1 and 2). The BBC model is a bit like PBS in that
it's commercial-free; to defray operating costs one must have a
television license. ITV and others have since come along; while they
support themselves via commercials you still must have a TV license
since you're capable of receiving BBC.
> And does
> this only apply to boxes capable of receiving a broadcast signal, or
> would my laptop with a DVD player fall under the rules...
Only things capable of receiving "broadcast" signals require the
license, which is available in various weird flavors for color and
B&W, residential and commercial.
Then there are the television detector vans (do they still use those?)
that would prowl around looking for RF emissions from unlicensed
receivers. I won't even go into cat detector vans... :-)
> Clint (slightly mystified)
You and me both.
Best,
Chris
--
Chris Kennedy
chris_at_mainecoon.com
http://www.mainecoon.com
PGP fingerprint: 4E99 10B6 7253 B048 6685 6CBC 55E1 20A3 108D AB97
Received on Mon Feb 21 2000 - 17:26:55 GMT