|2-Television Licence By Stig Of The Dump You DO NOT need a licence if you use a television for a computer........... You need a Licence to receive television signals. i.e. moving images. Doesn't matter where they come from. Cable, Satellite (From 1st April 1991). Domestic or non domestic (foreign). Any transmission that produces an image on the screen, which also cover text transmissions i.e.. Teletext & weather satellites. But the Licence only covers this not the equipment. You can have a house full of equipment and they can't do anything unless you use it for one of the above. So you can use a normal telly and video, to watch videos and play games. They have no right to enter your property to check without your permission. They can only get a court order from the magistrates if they have proof you are in breach of the conditions of the licence. Then they must come with a Police officer. You can write to local office and tell them you do not have or use the equipment, but they probably want to check. At best they will only leave you alone for 18 months. I prefer to ignore them. That way they think your hiding something and try harder to find it. Then you contact them complaining about harassment. Remember the day they pick up a signal, then they come with a warrant. They do not believe that people do not watch tv. If you say you don't they will think you are lying or strange. Remember most of the time people get caught because they let them in. You've got something to hide, you get flustered and fuck up. They need a copper and a warrant if not tell them to sod off. If you want to get them going, let them introduce who they are, say nothing, smile and close the door. Stick a video on and turn the volume up. (make sure it's not transmitted recording). If you don't watch telly then get complaining. I do. My view is I resent paying for something I do not watch. For what it is it's a fair price but no-one should be forced to pay. If you watch the BBC then you should pay for it. Satellite costs more but I have a choice. If I don't want it I don't have to pay and I can watch something else. Therefore I do not resent it. The BBC want it every way. If it's going to sink without a licence let it. If it is worth watching then it will be watched. Remember it's money from your licence which pays for adverts telling us what we will miss if the BBC folded. Did you remember them? Trying to justify the licence by spending the money justifying it??? Yet still the ratings of BBC TV & radio slump. Funny under a conservative government they choose a communist method of payment to support a capitalist company. The television is a social device and it poor people who suffer for it. A house may not have a licence but probably will have a television set. The BBC know this. They also know most people do not realise the licence is not for the equipment but for what you receive. So DON'T OWN UP let them prove it. They have to detect you have breached the licence to get the warrant from the magistrate. If they detect you using a computer, games machine, private hire video or home video and use this to obtain a warrant. Then they are in the wrong. Again they would need you to own up or find recordings of transmitted material. (having the TV tuned with an ariel plugged in may cause a few problems. That's intent which still may find you guilty) There are too many viewing options for one channel to dictate to the public. Write to you local office and tell them. The television licence is an out dated system. I have chosen to give up my television and will never buy a licence. If the films I wish to watch cost me more on video, so what. It's not supporting the BBC. People with children will often find they will watch purchased videos or play games then own up to watching telly when there's no proof????? The facts about this I obtained from the licencing head office on 30/5/95 and they were happy to answer my questions. Having the demodulator removed from Equipment is an urban myth and they are happy that we think that way. It makes their job easier. People think they have been caught when the TV is found. False. They have to catch you using it. another points to remember. When you purchase a TV from a shop they will forward you name to the local office. They will act on this. They even produced an advert stating they use information stored on a data base to catch you. Remember the one with the net? Purchasing a TV does not mean you are confessing to it's use. If you pay cash give a false name (if you don't mind returning manually if a guarantee is involved). That should lose the detectors. Something I would like some feedback on, is I think information stored on a data base that is incorrect or not updated within a set time period is an offence under the data protection act. I would like to know what information the licence office could hold and for how long? Anyway Catch you all later and Bite Back (where did I get that phrase from?) Stig Of The Dump