Billag continues to collect fees until 2017
Anyone with a radio or television connection will continue to receive mail from Billag at least once a year until 2017. The collection agency will remain responsible for collecting the levy until a new system comes into force.
The National Council and the Council of States are currently arguing about who will have to pay radio and TV fees in the future. The Council of States wants every household and every company to pay the fees in the future, while the National Council has spoken out in favor of exceptions. No agreement is yet in sight. On Thursday, the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (Uvek) announced that Billag would remain the collection agency for radio and television reception fees until a new levy system comes into effect. A new public invitation to tender for collection will be issued as soon as the modalities of the new system have been determined.
The contract between the Uvek and Billag, which would have expired at the end of 2014, has now been extended until 2017. At that time, the new levy system is expected to come into force. It made sense to leave the mandate with Billag, it said. If the mandate were to be reassigned for just three years, other companies would not be able to perform this task profitably in view of the effort involved and the amortization costs for infrastructure, IT and personnel.
Since the extension of the contract is a mere addendum to the existing contract, it will be awarded by private treaty, as permitted by the Ordinance on Public Procurement. On the other hand, the mandate of the future collection agency will be put out to public tender when a new levy system comes into force. (SDA)
