ACCESS TO THE SATELLITE PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTERS

Early day motion 700, tabled 10 February 2003 by John Grogan (Labour). Signed by 175 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment in the Communications Bill to delivering universal access to the public service channels in the digital age; believes that guaranteed availability of these channels for every viewer will be essential to drive digital take-up and achieve digital switchover; is concerned, however, that the Government proposes to achieve this on the satellite platform by placing a must offer obligation on the public service broadcasters with no reciprocal must carry obligation on the satellite operator; is further concerned that, instead, the Government proposes to carry forward the current OFTEL regime regulating access to the satellite platform, which takes no account of the public policy objectives underpinning broadcasting; believes that public service broadcasters should pay a market rate for the conditional access services they use, but not be forced to subsidise the marketing costs of BSkyB; fears that a continuation of the current regime will result in BBC, ITV, C4 and Five diverting millions of pounds off-screen each year; and calls on the Government to require OFCOM, through the Communications Bill, to take account of the specific objectives of public service broadcasting in approving charges for conditional access services.

Signatures by party: Labour 110, Liberal Democrat 39, Labour/Co-operative 12, Conservative 6, Scottish National Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Independent 1.