We have been talking since October 2021 the abolition or increase of the RAI fee in the bill. Different bills or bills from different Italian political parties have wanted to take this controversial and thorny topic into their own hands. The latest in chronological order was Matteo Salvini, leader of the League, who proposed theabolition of the RAI license fee after progressive reduction of the amount on the bill. Let's go see the details.
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RAI fee gone within 5 years: here is the League's bill
In accordance to revealed da ADKronos the Italian political party Lega has presented a bill in the Senate proposing a gradual reduction of the RAI license fee of 20% each year, until its complete elimination. All this, preceded by a clear redefinition of the concept of public service. The law also provides for the creation of a channel entirely dedicated to cultural promotion, in which commercials are not allowed. The text states that the television license, considered anachronistic and unjust, will have to be abolished within five years. Furthermore, the bill provides that the fee does not have to be paid if users do not have access to the network or cannot use the service for reasons beyond their control.
Read also: RAI license fee, about-face: stay inside the bill
The League believes that the radio, television and multimedia public service is indispensable for maintaining and affirm cultural and social values and defend local identities. Furthermore, the law requires complete, objective and plural information that values local identities and linguistic minorities. Programs should also communicate to the public a realistic representation of the role women play in social life, cultural and economic of the country.
The League has also proposed to "mark" the programs financed with the fee contribution, and to give continuity and certainty to RAI's governance through a 12-year concession and a 5-year mandate for members of the board of directors. Finally, the bill provides for cost containment and a guarantee on editorial responsibilities, with a limit of 30% of productions, organizations and productions of outsourced broadcasts.
Will the RAI license fee really be abolished?
Rai, like many other public and private television companies, has been affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a significant reduction in advertising revenue and a decrease in the number of subscribers. In 2020, RAI recorded a loss of around €200 million and the financial situation is expected to worsen further if the Rai license fee is cancelled. There cancellation of the license fee would represent a serious threat to the maintenance of public television accounts, which would have to give up a fundamental source of funding for the production of programs and the management of its technological infrastructure. Furthermore, the disappearance of the fee could also result in a reduction of personnel and services offered by RAI, with negative consequences for the quality of the information and entertainment transmitted.
In short, however beautiful and positive Matteo Salvini's proposal may be, it is highly unlikely that there will be an abolition of the RAI license fee.
When the RAI fee was born
The Rai fee was established in Italy in 1976 with the law n. 1039, with the aim of financing the public radio and television service offered by RAI. The fee was subsequently regulated by law no. 223 of 1990, which established the amount of the fee amount, the obligation to pay by those who own a television or a device suitable for receiving the television signal, and penalties for non-payments.
In addition to financing RAI's supply of television and radio programmes, it also serves to ensure the independence of the public broadcasting company from political and commercial control. Over the years, the Rai license fee has been the subject of criticism and debate, especially as regards the effectiveness of RAI's management of public funds and the correct application of the regulations on the payment of the license fee.
