The idea
Please support amendments intended to ensure that the TV licence fee is recoverable as a civil matter only, following non-payment and failure to respond to a notice issued by OFCOM – not a criminal offence. This is an unfair and outdated penalty.
The television licence fee is a "despised compulsory impost" and should be scrapped. The annual charge and the BBC should be funded by other means.
Why is it important?
The effect is to criminalise people for failing to pay a bill for installation of a television – hardly an offence that harms others. This is wrong.
The digital age means most consumers of television pay for packages that suit them. Why should the public pay twice? It should be the choice of the consumer. The TV licence fee is another tax on the poor.