LICENCE TO ACCESS BY SATELLITE DISHES

Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Information and the Arts, in such times when just about anything on the Internet can be accessed, whether private individuals could be given licence to access by satellite dishes.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The Government has disallowed the installation of satellite dishes for households in order to keep out undesirable satellite broadcasts which can undermine our multi-racial and multi-religious society. Commercial establishments, financial institutions, and media organisations are, however, free to apply for such licences.

The ban on satellite dishes for households will continue for as long as it is effective and useful. The Government is committed to providing an alternative to satellite television, through a national cable network linking every office, school and home. The cable system will be completed by the end of 1999.

For the Internet, SBA is working with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide web-filtering software as standard items in their starter kits. In addition, at the national level, our ISPs are offering a separate Family Access Network (FAN) which allows more-sanitised Internet access as an option for parents who are concerned for their children. Existing subscribers can opt to switch to FAN if they wish. SingNet has already launched its Family Online service on 1st July 1998, and the other two ISPs will follow soon.