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66 -
Reply:
Mr President,
I would like, first of all, to clarify a misconception. It was never the intention that the three channels reserved for Government use on Wharf Cable's network should be handed over to the Government on January 1, 1995. Condition 10.3.1 of Wharf Cable Limited's Initial Subscription Television Broadcasting Licence clearly states
that:
"Upon not less than six months notice in writing given by the Broadcasting Authority to the Licensee to expire at any time or times throughout the period of validity of this licence after January 1, 1995, the Licensee shall, in addition to the obligations referred to in Clause 10.1, make available to Government free of charge and expense such use of not more than three channels in the basic package of programmes as may be directed by the Broadcasting Authority, subject to the availability of radio frequency spectrum during the period that the Licensee is utilising that spectrum under this licence."
Thus provision is made for the channels to be handed over any time during the validity of Wharf Cable's 12-year licence. It follows in regard to part (a) of the question therefore, that there is no specific time-table for the Government to institute any measures to make the channels available. However, Wharf Cable do not have spare spectrum capacity at present on its MMDS system and is unlikely to have a sufficient subscriber reach on its optic fibre network to make handover worthwhile until well into 1996.
As regards parts (b) and (c) of the question, Members were informed during the motion debate on July 6, 1994 that an inter-departmental Working Group had been set up in April 1994 to examine whether and if so, how the Government should make the best use of the Government channels on Wharf Cable's network and should explore the ideas of providing a "public broadcasting service" and/or a "public access service". The Working Group has now completed its Report and its recommendations are currently being considered within the Administration. It is intended that the outcome will be reported to Members shortly, once the Administration has taken a decision.
End/Wednesday, March 8, 1995