Sir, – It is now universally accepted that the TV licence fee is no longer fit for purpose. However, there appears to be near universal support among the political class for public service broadcasting and Irish multimedia content creation in general.
Furthermore, the vast majority of multimedia is now consumed on mobile phones rather than on TV sets.
The proposal is to abolish the TV licence fee and replace it with a per month levy on all active mobile phone accounts.
Currently there are approximately 4.5 million active mobile phone accounts in use in Ireland and this number is expected to rise to 4.75 million by 2028.
A levy of €4 per month would raise approximately €210 million per year.
This proposal has a number of advantages.
Evasion is not possible as it would result in disconnection of mobile phone service.
The cost of collection would be minimal (cost of TV licence collection is over €10 million per year).
The time of the courts prosecuting non-payers is eliminated.
Many households would see a reduction in their annual multimedia charge compared to the current TV licence fee of €160.
For exempted categories, for example the over-70s, the Department of Social Protection can pay the levy, as it does with the current TV licence.
The levy is very similar to the bank card levy which has been in operation for many years, and is entirely non-discriminatory as it applies to all mobile service providers equally. – Yours, etc,
PETER BRANAGAN,
Dublin 16.