Rules to ensure all Irish television viewers get a high-quality digital television service have been announced by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
The Minister said the rules were designed to protect consumers and promote choice.
The arrival of digital television will greatly multiply the number of TV channels available. It will be introduced over the coming years but may not fully replace the current analogue system of television distribution even over 15 years. The system will also bring interactive services such as in-home banking and shopping, as well as improving picture and sound quality.
The regulations which came into effect yesterday will govern RTE, cable companies such as Cablelink, MMDS distributors of television signals and satellite operators. They set Europe-wide standards for picture and sound quality.
They also stipulate that the settop boxes which decode the digital signals must be able to decode the channels provided by all suppliers to the market. This is to ensure television companies cannot sell boxes that decode their own channels only.
Another rule states that all television sets over a minimum size (42cm measured diagonally) sold or rented in Ireland must be able to receive digital television.
Ms O'Rourke said yesterday she was adamant that television viewers in rural Ireland would have the same access to digital television as their urban counterparts.
"The digitalisation of broadcasting offers unlimited opportunities to use what was formerly a TV channel delivery system for other services, such as the Internet, multi-media and other interactive services including home banking and home shopping," she said. Regulatory issues, other than the regulation of content, would be a matter for the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. These would include radio frequency management, Internet service provision, telecommunications and value-added services and interactive services.
The rules set out in the regulations will be enforced by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and the Director of Consumer Affairs.