Was the government trying to cut down on tv watching?
How did that pass and why do people tolerate it?
(I see lots of questions about it, but I don't know much about it as it's a totally foreign concept here in the US>)
2007-02-23 04:48:14 · 4 answers · asked by Vegan 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You need a license to own a television in the UK.
2007-02-23 04:53:41 · update #1
In the UK set owners pay an annual license fee to support the commercial free state broadcasting companies.
In the US broadcasters are "licensed" for the same reason that land is surveyed and land deeds are registered: to allow individuals to "own" or "lease" an electromagnetic frequency for their exclusive use. If exclusivity was not enforced there would be no radio or tv or cell phones, etc. There would be nothing but static noise as everybody tried to use the same broadcast frequencies.
2007-02-23 06:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no licensing of RECEIVERS in the USA. You can buy and use any kind of receiver you want to receive any kind of signal you want. However, TRANSMITTERS are licensed.
The Federal Communications Act of 1934 stated the airways (radio frequency spectrum) belongs to the people
However, there needs to be some control otherwise you will have two or more people (HAM operators), networks (radio, later TV) transmitting on the same frequency and jamming the signal of the other. So while unrestricted reception of the signals is allowed, they do restrict transmission by licensing radio, TV, ham operators, etc so that they each have their own frequency that does not mess up another transmission.
2007-02-23 12:58:17 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Primary reason, money. one more way for the government to extort money from business.
Secondary was to enforce standards that allowed TV makers to manufacture TVs in a more uniform way, and keep competing stations from infringing on each others frequencies and programming.
Edit: looks like from your additional notes that you were referring to licensing of TV sets for private individuals. You're right - totally foreigh concept to us in the US. But probably still about separating you from your money.
2007-02-23 12:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by boonietech 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i didnt kno there was tv licensing
2007-02-23 12:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋