Up to 5,000 householders in the south-east could have their British television channels restored in time for Christmas amid indications this week that four previously illegal deflector operators could be licensed in the coming months.
The Co Waterford Coastal Multi Systems, Callan Community TV in Co Kilkenny and south Tipperary's Killenaule and Fethard Community TV were forced to shut down in 1997 on foot of an injunction taken by the legal cable and MMDS operator, Cablelink.
Comeragh Aerial Services also went off the air in 1998 because of fears of legal action against the land-owners where their transmitters were.
However, a spokesman for the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR) confirmed this week that regulations to allow the licensing of deflector operators would be complete within weeks and would then be sent to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, for approval.
Before going off the air, the south-east deflector operators were all providing BBC 1 and 2, HTV and S4C, together with RTE1, Network 2, and TG4 for a charge of between £40 and £50 a year. Some of the groups also provided Channel 5, Eurosport and TNT.
Despite ODTR confirmation that the regulations are being finalised, a SECTA spokesman, Mr Michael Power, said they were worried they may still not have the licences in time to be back on air for Christmas.
"We have been trying for over two years and we are still waiting," he said.
A SECTA meeting last week agreed that a major campaign to lobby local TDs would be undertaken in order to have the licences issued as soon as possible.
A public meeting is also being planned for Tramore, Co Waterford, in the coming weeks.
Under the proposed regulations, the new licences will run only until December 31st, 2001.