Committee of the Council of States unanimously rejects No Billag initiative

The abolition of fees would call into question the public service and would not reduce costs for private households in any way, the commission wrote in a statement on Tuesday. It therefore recommends that the Council of States reject the initiative. In a direct democracy like Switzerland, comprehensive and objective reporting is of great importance, the commission argues. The fees would also take into account the language regions and ensure the continued existence of local radio and television stations.

New media law

Digitalization is bringing with it new forms of communication, the KVF continues. This will change the legislation in the coming years. However, the Federal Council has held out the prospect of a new media law. In addition, the new fee system, which is expected to be introduced in 2019, will change the distribution of fees and licenses. The basis for the new system had been created by the electorate with the Yes vote to the revised Radio and Television Act in 2015. The change from the current reception fee to a device-independent fee is intended to take account of the fact that most households have reception devices, as radio and TV programs can now also be received on cell phones and computers.

Second attempt

The initiative "Yes to the abolition of radio and television fees (abolition of Billag fees)" was submitted on December 11, 2015. It is backed by representatives of the Young SVP and the Young Freisinn. The initiators are calling for the abolition of radio and television reception fees and the associated financing of radio and television. This is already the second popular initiative calling for the abolition of reception fees. However, the initiative "Radio and television - without Billag" was not successful.

Online advertising ban controversial

The Council of States committee also dealt with a motion from its National Council sister committee. The latter wants to instruct the Federal Council to ban SRG online advertising even after 2018. In the Service Public report, the Federal Council considers relaxing the ban in the medium term. The KVF of the Council of States does not want to prevent this. It proposes to its Council by seven votes to three with three abstentions to reject the motion. Also up for discussion was a motion to amend the motion text so that online advertising for the SRG is permitted if the revenue is spent on specific measures and services - for example, for the new media or offers for the benefit of private media.

No binding order yet

The KVF rejected this proposal by four votes to four and five abstentions with a casting vote by Commission President Olivier Français (FDP/VD). It considers the proposals interesting, but the instrument of the motion too binding, according to the statement. SRG will be a topic in both chambers of parliament in the coming spring session. The National Council will deal with the service public report in the third week of the session, the Council of States with the Billag initiative. (SDA)