Satellite television

Press, 2 July 1983, Page 16

Satellite television

Sir,—l see that the commissars in Post Office headquarters have said “no” to individuals wishing to receive satellite television broadcasts from overseas. This was entirely predictable. In my experience as an electronics professional, an “official no” is the standard response, and avoids the necessity to engage in logical argument on questions of either engineering or moral principle. Bureaucratic power is a comforting shield from the real world. I urge the satellite television enthusiasts to challenge the ruling in court, for it is unsoundly based. In principle, the only justification for requiring licensing of any electro-magnetic reception device is where a fee is to be collected to pay for the service provided, as in domestic television. Clearly, if foreign agencies are making public television transmissions for the benefit of their own territories which happen to impinge upon New Zealand but are not provided specifically for this country, then no fee and therefore no licence is required.— Yours, etc., ROBIN C. DUFF. June 29, 1983.