CATV system is more in the nature of a
mini-rediffusion network. They consider,
therefore, that there is a good case for
extending to the public the right to
establish certain types of communal
aerials (ADS) for the direct and better
reception of wireless television
programmes, rather than allow the
establishment of all such facilities
to be the monopoly of one company. If
the latter situation were allowed to
arise, RTV would be in a position to
impose conditions for providing such
facilities (e.g. that subscribers
must take the RTV service). They
propose, by amendment of RTV's licence,
to permit any person to erect under
licence any community antenna or aerial
distribution system other than the CATV
system. Such licences would be issued
by the Telecommunications Authority and
the licence fee would be nominal, to
cover only administration costs. They
would be freely issued to any person or
body (including RTV) with the requisite
technical qualifications, with a view to
maximising competition in this field.
ARGUMENT AND CONCLUSIONS
23. The two issues of copyright and
communal aerial systems are each
considered below with particular
for
reference to the justification of the
Hong Kong Government's proposed action,
to possible alternatives and to the case
for compensating RTV for loss of rights
under its licence.
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