Tv licence and laptops?

i was woundering if this is true about the TV Licence

apprently even if you dont have a TV or watch TV but have a Laptop and have Broadband you have to have a TV Licence due to the Iplayer the BBC launched?

is this True?

if so why should someone pay for a service they dont use or intend to use?
just because they have a personal computer with Broadband

I don't think it is, Bodrul... haven't heard anything, anyway - if it was true the BBC would have made a big song and dance about it because they'd want their money!

I have not heard this either and I routinely watch TV on both my desktop and Laptop...

I found a lot of "Blogs" on the subject, but only this one reference...

Ask Jack

Semper

I believe the rule is if the laptop is running without any cables connected to it then the license fee doesn't apply but if you watch tv while any cables are connected to it then it comes under the same rules as a normal television and needs a television license, basically only watch tv when no cables are connected.

I'm not 100% sure as I've not looked this up myself, a family member started University last September and they looked into the rules then, it might even be that those rules only apply to University based accommodation . Basically what I'm saying is I don't know.

[edit on 19-3-2008 by UK Wizard]

The current rules stipulate that any device receiving TV transmissions, be it a TV or a PC with a tuner card, must have a license, even such things as Mobile TV on your phone technically need a license. However, seeing as most people have a license anyway for their household and you only require one per household, the discussion is somewhat moot unless, of course, you plan to do away with you TV's and watch solely on you laptop. But, as stated above, you would still need a license for that.

There are exemptions, though. The licensing only applies to watching programmes that are broadcast. Watching a programme through iPlayer does not constitute a broadcast because it is essentially an on-demand service. Same applies to any film or programme you download or stream from the internet.

A broadcasted programme is defined as "a programme .. received at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public by virtue of its being broadcast or distributed as part of that service", so what it means is, you need a license if you plan to watch a programme that is, at that precise moment in time, being broadcast on Television. Anything that is subsequently "repeated", such as iPlayer, does not constitute a broadcast and as such, you need not pay a license fee to watch it.

The Government is currently reviewing the situation though and it may be required in future to pay a license for PC's as well, even if you had no TV's in the house.

Why pay a fee to the BBC? They have broken the law, and the Royal Charter to which, they are bound by law.

The best part, is that because the Beeb cannot adhere to the law, you are not required to pay anything to them, or the licencing authority, until the matter is put right.

I haven't paid a licence fee in years, and I have no intention of paying a fee either.

I have had the "Agents" around for the Licencing Authority, to try and enforce mandatory payment, but when the law is pointed out to them they can do nothing but leave.

It's been months now since they last contacted me.

If any of you want to know the exact details post a reply here, and I'll put the details up...

i would like to see the exat details
so could you post it please?

reply to post by bodrul


Just for the benefit of those of you I promised this information here it is:

I have not paid a television licence for some time, and will not pay for a television licence for as long as the BBC cannot uphold the law.

The reason I do not pay my licence is simple. If the law requires you to pay a licence fee to keep the BBC in business, then equally the law requires (by royal charter, amongst other legal standards) that the BBC act in a proper and lawful manner. The BBC has not acted in a lawful manner on many occasions, as such it is gathering monies via the license fees in a dishonest fashion.

As such, I will never give my hard earned money to the Beeb...! Not until it cleans up its act. Here's how.

NOTE: This is tried and teseted action - I know I've done it, and it works a treat!



In 1951 the British Broadcasting Corporation was granted a Royal Charter to provide news in a fair and totally unbiased manner.

The BBC quickly gained an international reputation for excellence and balance until the early 1970's. Then things went badly wrong. It was infiltrated by Common Purpose Communists and so-called Liberal Socialists who were not keen on programmes that were good, honest, or unbiased.

In their hands the BBC was re-fashioned to brainwash listeners and viewers, so the "BBC Liberalist" viewpoint prevailed. The impartiality of the BBC was killed off by viewpoints that were wildly out-of-kilter with the mainstream of public opinion, and that wilfully ignored the very reason of the BBC to exist.

Objectivity was lost in favour of blatant propaganda. The BBC is now failing in its absolute duty to provide the public with full information; particularly about the European Union.

This subject, the abolition of 27 nations (soon to be much more) and their replacement by an undemocratic dictatorship, is the most important issue in the history of Britain. The abolition of our nation after 1,000 years will have a staggerging effect on all of us.

The BBC has, on its own admission, been paid by the European Union, to support it exclusively, and in consequence of this treason has broken its Royal Charter.

Do you think you should continue to pay for a TV license, when your money is going to an agent of the European Union?

Should you pay for a lack of truthful information; mis-information or downright lies, or should you stop paying your license fee?

Action Taken:

There are scores of people, including me, protesting or refusing to pay. Their experience is that if you write a letter to the licensing authority saying you will withhold your license fee until the BBC obeys its charter, citing the criminal breaches outlined above, the Licensing Authority replies that "it is criminal to watch TV without a license" - but it ignores the fact that the BBC is acting far more criminally in a way that is dangerous to the liberties of all British people.

Then the letters stop - they cannot defend this action in court (they know this) and that's the end of the matter.

A man called, Niall Warry of Cheltenham forced the BBC to take him to court, and then proceeded to outline the points above to the court! Without actually saying he had won the case, or focing him to pay a fine/the license fees, the court gave him a conditional discharge...

On the Attack:

The plan of action, in the unlikely event you are visited by a Licensing Authority Collection Agent is as follows:

Be courteous; show the visitors the TV. Tell them the conversations will be recorded and may be produced as evidence in court (make sure you record all conversations). Copy the full details from their compulsory ID card "for the legal file". Advise them as follows:

The Treason & Felony Act 1848 forbids aid or comfort to Traitors, and provides a pealty of imprisonment for life. All accomplices will be imprisoned. imprisoned. Ask the agent if they are aware they are now acting as an accomplice to treason.

A Senior BBC official (name forgotten - I'll find this) has confessed that the BBC has wilfully committed a deliberate Act of Treason... There is a video of this too. I'll need to find an post the link.

In view of this Treason the law imposes upon us the responsibilty to withhold from the BBC ALL funds and ALL co-operation of any kind.
The BBC's charter places the responsibility for maintaining the Charter squarely on the BBC, both directly and by all Agents & Servants of the Corporation, including the Licensing Authority - and the Licensing Authority Agents that might visit your home...

A Senior Official of the BBC has publicly acknowledged that the terms of the Carter have NOT been maintained, in terms of unbiased reporting - state that this evidence can and will be produced in court (note: I'll provide links to this extra detail as and when I find my bloody note book with the details in it.)

Advise the visiting agent of the burden of establishing the proof of the above are matters for them and not for yourself. In the meantime, they should conduct a full and diligent investigation to confirm the legal position to protect themselves.

You take them to court:

If the agent, and the Authority, fails to investigate the claims of treason, unlawful conduct by the BBC and breach of the Royal Charter, then evidence will be placed before the court to demonstrate their failure first, before any case they may bring. Make them aware they could be witnesses in court.

Invite them to write to the BBC for detailed comment and guidance on these points - just to keep themselves on the right side of the law, ask them to get a copy to you too!

Tell them they should meet again with you so they can report on progress, and take the matter forward, with your co-operation.

I found that a few threatening letters arrived after doing all of this, but the Beeb finally capitulates by saying that they do not intend to prosecute....




I had posted originally this lot on myTelegraph... the link is below, so you can see some of the comments I got too.

my.telegraph.co.uk...