Spanish telco regulator rejects TV tax plan

Spain’s telecoms regulator the CMT is against levying a tax on telcos to make up the funding shortfall created by the phasing out of advertising on public broadcaster TVE.

The Spanish government had suggested a 0.9% tax on telco’s earnings could help plug the gap as advertising is reduced and ultimately eliminated on TVE’s channels. Spanish press report that the CMT rejected the idea of a telco tax and suggested various alternatives although it is not clear what these are.