[alperakgun]

In Germany just because you have a TV-enabled deviced, you pay a fee to GEZ to finance public broadcasters I suppose.

I'm not sure if they will consider "free internet" as another way to access TV and charge you.

[throwaway2245]

"Since 2013, every private household in Germany has been required to pay these fees, regardless of whether the household actually has the capability to receive the broadcasts themselves."

So this is a universal tax anyway, whether or not you have a TV-enabled device.

[bonoboTP]

They already charge you anyway. They just assume you have an Internet or TV/radio enabled device. Again, having internet is enough as they say you may watch the public media on the broadcaster's website...

Some years ago they would send people to sniff around your home to find a media device, like taking photos of your car radio in front of your home to prove you can access public media. But if you let them in your home, they'd write a report of you having a TV etc.

But as I said this isn't happening any more, they just assume every household has a device capable of accessing public media so everyone must pay.

There was a big movement against this but ultimately the Constitutional Court decided all this is A-OK.

[tpush]

> In Germany just because you have a TV-enabled deviced, you pay a fee to GEZ to finance public broadcasters I suppose.

These days you have to pay no matter what, even if you have no device that can receive broadcasts.

[MrDresden]

Iceland has a similar fee, which goes towards our national radio and television broadcaster.