MTITC will ensure the right of all entitled persons to obtain access to digital terrestrial TV
07.08.2013
The terrestrial analogue TV signal will not be switched off until there are conditions for all people with special social needs to access their rightful free decoder. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Georgi Todorov, at a press conference on the process of digitalization.
The first stage of the supply of decoders, covering about 124 000 people, is already underway and includes people in need in four regions of the country: North-West region; North-East region, South Central region. At this stage, in Sofia, the covered region is "Social Assistance" Directorate - "Oborishte". A second tender procedure is launched for the supply of the other decoders to 86 000 people with low incomes in the regions: South-West (with administrative center of Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Sofia city, Sofia district and Kyustendil) South-East (Bourgas, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Yambol) and North Central (Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Razgrad, Ruse and Silistra).
"The public opening of the received offers will take place on 13 August and hopefully a contractor will be selected as soon as possible" said Deputy Minister Todorov. According to him, once the work of the Commission at MTITC has ended, the exact deadline for the disconnection of the analog signal in all regions will be clear. If necessary, the deadline of the simultaneous broadcast of digital and analog signal (Simulcast) will be extended after September 1, until all eligible persons are given the opportunity to acquire their decoders.
"We have discussed the process with all interested parties which are relevant to the digitization" added Mr. Todorov. In his words, the body responsible for the digitalization, chaired by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications will meet and decide on the final deadlines for the disconnection of the analog signal in accordance with the course of the procurement of the second phase, and the disconnection process will take place within few days.
During the second stage of the digitization, the procedure for obtaining the decoding control devices vouchers will be the same as in the first stage. The condition for receiving a voucher will be the completion of the declaration, where the person in need verifies that they can not receive digital television (whatever the platform - satellite, cable or terrestrial). The eligible persons must not violate the integrity of the voucher.
During both stages of the digitization, the winners of the tender are required to sell the end-user decoders at the lowest prices that were specified when applying in the tender procedure for each type: DVB-T (terrestrial platform), DVB-S (satellite platform) and DVB-C (cable platform). In this regard, there is a filed is left at the back of the voucher where the sales person fills in the real price paid per unit. In order to prevent fraud, vouchers are printed as securities, which include determining the nominal value of the security. Accordingly, subject to the principle of technological neutrality and considering the right of individuals to choose, with regard to the value of the devices, the prices cannot be the same for the three types of devices. When there is a difference between the value of the voucher offered by the contractor and the one entered in the voucher field, the funds remain in the state budget.
The purchased end-user decoders have a warranty of two years, during which they can be repaired or replaced with new ones if necessary. |