International Journal of Communications Law & Policy

THE INTRODUCTION OF DIGITAL TELEVISION IN GERMANY

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE ON DIGITAL BROADCASTING
By Wolfgang Becker

Download the Paper in PDF Format: IJCLP Web-Doc 9-4-2000

Abstract

On 17 December 1997, the German Federal Cabinet decided to commission the Federal Ministry of Economics (as the legal successor to the Federal Ministry for Posts and Telecommunications) to work together with the Federal Ministries of the Interior, of Justice, of Finance, of Defence and of Education and Science, Research and Technology on creating a platform on "Digital Broadcasting" with the other parties involved (Länder, programme/service providers, network operators, industry, trade, crafts and consumers) in order to draft a strategy proposal for the transition to digital broadcasting, if possible by 1 June 1998. The author, being chairman of the Ministry's working group, describes the past efforts taken by this initiative as well as its strategic aims for the future.