Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: BBC sends cops to arrest nonviewer for refusing to pay the
 licensing fee
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2025 13:59:57 -0000 (UTC)
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Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

>>. . . 

>I'm not clear to me how the TV signal is delivered in the UK. Is it over 
>the air, via cable, via satellite, via cell towers or some other method?

It's broadcast over the air. There are also apps for streaming a live
signal. I assume there's also a satellite uplink/downlink to big dish,
then cable distribution too, but I don't know how many subscribe. They've
got some small-dish satellite too.

Receive a signal via any method that is live, then the license fee is
owed.

>In any case, it seems to me that they need to take the same approach 
>they take to other utilities: if you fail to pay for what you use, they 
>cut off the supply of the service. If you don't pay your water bill, 
>they can turn off the water. Therefore, if you don't pay your license 
>fee, cut off the supply of TV to your house or apartment.

This isn't comparable to a public utility. If you receive any live tv,
like the broadcast of a commercial station, never watching a BBC
channel, you owe the license fee. It is not related to watching BBC
channels.

>By analogy with water, you can still use your sink or bathtub if your 
>water is cut off, you just have to come up with your own water, via 
>jugs, a backyard well or whatever. By the same token, you're not getting 
>live TV in the house any more if you've had your TV feed shut off but 
>you can still watch DVDs or other pre-recorded media.

>That approach should solve the problem nicely WITHOUT the police needing 
>to be involved at all unless perhaps you somehow interfere with the guy 
>turning off the TV feed to your house or you pirate the feed somehow by 
>tapping into the neighbour's feed.

How do you cut off broadcast signal?