Coutinho urges DSRT to issue fines for poor TV reception

Lawmakers José Pereira Coutinho and Leong Veng Chai have raised criticism over measures taken by the government to improve TV services in Macau. They have urged the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT) to issue fines whenever TV reception is poor.
The legislators asked the government why they have not waited for the University of Macau’s final report on the future of TV services in order to then find a better solution. In April last year, the Macau government created a publicly owned company to ensure the relay of free-to-air broadcasts, including a package comprising 49 basic TV channels.
Public antenna companies – which had always been accused by Macau Cable TV of illegally airing copyright-protected programs – are now responsible for continuing to deliver signals to residents’ homes. At the same time, CTM is assisting by providing 34 signal access points across the territory, using underground cables.
Last year, the government commissioned a study on the future of TV services by a group of scholars from the University of Macau. However, the results of the study haven’t yet been released. DSRT’s director, Mr Hoi Chi Leong, stated recently that the government would have further information on this issue in the near future.
The lawmakers expressed the opinion that the process has been handled too hastily, instead of being put out to public tender.
They claim that such a process raises “interpretation doubts,” particularly when it comes to “favoritism” and the “relations between CTM and the government.”
Lawmakers said that several residents have made complaints regarding the poor quality of TV signals.
They have asked the government to publicly reveal how much money is currently being paid CTM each month, as the company is installing signal access points using underground cables within new building complexes. CP