Dukes plan fails to satisfy TV deflector campaigners

THE Government's attempt to defuse the television deflector controversy in rural constituencies seems to have failed to satisfy many of the vested interests involved in the dispute.

The Cable Communications Association of Ireland, representing the licensed cable/MMDS industry, is examining the option of taking legal action, while spokesmen for deflector groups in Co Mayo and the south-east last night renewed their threat to field general election candidates.

They were responding to yesterday's proposals by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, for a new short-term licensing scheme to provide multi-channel TV on the UHF band. The new scheme, which will operate in addition to the existing cable relay and MMDS systems, is intended to introduce competition for the provision of multi-channel television in non-cable areas.

Following yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Mr Dukes told the Dail he was hopeful that applications for licences could be submitted by the autumn. Departmental officials are to draw up the regulations under the 1926 Wireless and Telegraphy Act.

The scheme, which will incur a copyright and subscription charge, provides for retransmission of a maximum of four TV channels compared to 11 on the MMDS and cable relay systems.

Mr Dukes told opposition spokesmen that he would not be proceeding against deflector systems, "past and present", between now and the closing date for applications for licences. He also announced that he had yesterday rejected South Coast Community Television's application for a licence, which the High Court had required him to examine.

The new services would take second place to the primacy of the national channels, RTE 1, Network 2, Teilifis na Gaeilge and ultimately TV3 on the UHF band, Mr Dukes said. The licensing scheme would operate until December, 1999, because of the need to consider frequency implications for digital television.

Outlining the licensing requirements, the Minister said that a separate application would be necessary for each proposed transmitter; deflector operators, MMDS companies, cable operators and others could apply; firm action would be taken against illegal operators after a date yet to be set; and applicants would be required to have tax clearance, planning compliance certificates and arrangements in place for payment of copyright and royalties.

The Fianna Fail spokesman, Mr Seamus Brennan, described Mr Dukes's scheme as "an election trick which has been dressed up in `Star Trek' language". The reality was that it was a "sticking job"to get the Coalition through the election.

Mr Robert Molloy, spokesman for the Progressive Democrats, pointed out that the party had not been in government when it opposed the MMDS proposals mooted by the then Minister, Mr Ray Burke. They had wanted to include a clause in the FF/PD Programme for Government in 1989, but had been informed by Mr Burke that the matter had proceeded beyond the point at which the arrangements for contracts could be reviewed.