Actually, I am quite in favor of that idea.

BTW, not only does Swisscom transmit SRG programs, but ALL radio programs that are available in Switzerland!

(other than those that pass over the border, but there are few of those, and they don't go far)

Tom

Errr.. no I haven't, but then again, these two figures are public. You can groan me as much as you want, but these are the facts.

That happens when you outsource the state's tasks (claiming fees) to private companies.

It's called capitalism.

You do not have a bank account ?

That doesn't make much sense. If the sum that Billag got was somehow magically fixed they wouldn't need to come knocking on our doors to ask for more. Where would the incentive be?

Would be nice.

But Billag don't charge you for what you can receive. They charge you for what your equipment is capable of receiving, which is not the same thing. So if you are a retired farmer in the remotest corner of Hinterunterkäsibergsbrunneli and the only signal you can get is your neighbour's tractor and your brother in law's cow bells then you still pay Billag if you own a TV set.

It is not in Billag's responsibility to get any signal to you. There is a disconnect between the charge and the service.

Only that normal capitalist companies face something called competition. If I don't like Migros I can go to Coop. It's not really obvious to me who Billag's competitors are.

Not 100% true.

Quote: "Nur wenn keinerlei funktionierende Antenneninfrastruktur (Satellit, Antenne, Kabelnetz, Internet) vorhanden ist, besteht für das Fernsehgerät keine Meldepflicht."

rough translation: "Only if no functioning antenna infrastructure (satellite, Antenna, cable, Internet) exists for the TV is there no obligation to pay."

source: http://www.billag.ch/web/de/fragen_u...en/geraet.html

er, so what?

is the van that delivers newspapers payed for by the government, or by a tax on everybody who can read, or is it in fact payed for the by the newspaper companies. The van driver doesn't have any editorial responsibility so surely it is unfair that his job should depend on the ability of the newspaper editors to make a newspaper that can sell.

Larger city newspapers are privately owned and distributed but small regional papers in Switzerland (of which most are free of charge) are subsidized by the local governments and delivered by postal workers (also government employees).

They love their job?

I was just translating old chap.

If you get to the stage where Billag issue a court order (Betreibung) for not paying, you will see that it is issued on behalf of the Federal Government.

Is a tax the only alternative to Billag?

Are you speaking on experience?

My impression is very much that Billag goes for low hanging fruit only. They knock on people's doors and scare them but don't stick their head out and put up money for something like a court case that they could actually lose, or worse still culminate in a legal precedent that others could use against them. The only situation where they would even contemplate gouing to court is when they are sure of winning because the person is a student or a pensioner or a single mother who won't get a decent lawyer. But probably even that is too much risk for them. Scaring people and telling them B$ is so much more cost effective. I have seen no evidence of any legal procedings initiated by Billag so far.

No, but being realistic, it's the least unfair option of those that are politically doable right now.

Thanks for clarifying it... A good brain you have.

I love capitalism. I want to buy buy buy................. but not to pay pay pay. But: What do I "buy" when I pay billag, if I don't have TV or radio, only 20M-DSL. I am capable of killing people, because I have a knife at home, and I don't go to the jail.

We have to support swiss TV and they can make shitty programs if they decide it. But I dont understand paying the burocracy and this people looking around what you have at home...

Yes, and it would be much cheaper.

Yes, I also thought this But the original content of what you correctly translated is still odd.. (this topic is so frustratingly fascinating!). If a fee is owed to the government, why does the government use a private company to collect it? Why is it not a tax (like church tax)? I never got that part of all this.

Also, why do people keep translating Billag's Q&As, instead of the letter of the law? Who cares about how Billag interprets the law..? They are a private company, so why should I care what their interpretation or opinion of the law is.. (opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one).

In the actual law it says something like this:
"Wer ein zum Empfang von Radio- und Fernsehprogrammen geeignetes Gerät..."

But it doesnt (correct me, as I know im likely wrong!) say what devices are "geeignetes" (suitable?)... and leaves me to decide this.

e.g. I don't see the word "Internet" in the law as something capable of TV reception. A TV is a TV. Internet is internet.

How could Internet/computer be classed as TV and radio reception equipment? Mine can not receive TV signals, nor radio signals. If I installed Windows, likely it could watch youtube though.. but where does all this nonsense stop?

Any Billag person is welcome to come to my house and try to log in through the Unix password, and try to look at TV or radio...

No... on second thoughts, they are not welcome in my house at all. They can continue guessing at the non-existence of "TV equipment", and I'll happily let them spend all of your Billag donations trying to decipher what is in, or not in my house to receive their rubbish shows that I don't want.

Like I said earlier - I'll never pay for something I didn't order, don't use and don't want... unless it is a tax.

I guess people use Billag's interpretation because it's them that will be chasing for the money if it isn't paid.

It needs somebody willing to take it to court to get it legally clarified*. As someone else remarked though, Billiag are unlikely to want that in case they lose.


* Or for the definition of the law to be brought up to date.

Hello everybody and many thanks again for all contributions and good discussions.
Here I explain what happened to me finally after this visit:
The BILLAG sent me 2 letters. One was regarding my registration, another contained a bill for my registration. The bill was due to my 2 year internet usage (~400 CHF) with no fine included. So, I just paid the bill and things are looking fine.
I believe whenever you are honest and tell the truth, the life difficulties are minimized.
Have a good summer time, all.

Hello everybody;
Many thanks again for all contributions and good discussions.
Here I explain what happened to me finally after this visit:

The BILLAG sent me 2 letters. One was regarding my registration, another contained a bill for my registration. The bill was due to my 2 year internet usage (~400 CHF) with no fine included. So, I just paid the bill and things are looking fine.
I believe whenever you are honest and tell the truth, the life difficulties are minimized.

Have a good summer time, all.

You pay Billag per Household, not number of rooms or people (Bars, offices etc. of course have other rules, this is for private residencies only).