Correspondents in Germany

OCTOBER 20, 2006

GERMANY'S 16 states have agreed to introduce a licence fee of €5.52 ($9.19) a month on computers and mobile phones that can access television and radio programs via the internet.

From January 1, any household or company that does not already have a license will have to pay the new levy, which is the same as the one currently charged for radio access, state premiers agreed at a meeting in the town of Bad Pyrmont.

German households pay just over €17 a month to watch TV, but since more radio programs are available over the internet than TV, state broadcaster ARD wanted the fee for computers and phones to match that of radios.

The plan has attracted sharp criticism from industry groups that argue it would harm German firms, especially small and medium-sized businesses.

Germany's TV license fee is among the highest in Europe, with only Switzerland and the Nordic countries paying more. It funds four national public broadcasters, several local broadcasters and all the country's public radio stations.