Lower house approves controversial switch to new digital tv frequency

The lower house of parliament on Wednesday approved a government proposal paving the way for the switch to a new digital television frequency and making room for the expansion of high speed mobile internet. The switch should be completed by 2021. The proposal has been controversial with satellite tv companies saying that Czech households will be landed with costs of around 5 billion crowns for new tvs and set top boxes. They also argue that the proposed law represents substantial and illegal state aid to the country biggest tv frequency provider, České Radiokomunikace.