Changes at the turn of 2010 - 2011 in the administrative sector of the Ministry of Transport and Communications
Higher compensation for the users of communication services The amount of compensation to be paid for the users of communication services will increase and the contents of contracts will become more detailed. The changes in relation to consumer protection in the Communications Market Act will become effective at the beginning of 2011. In situations where services have been delayed or interrupted, the standard compensation and standard reimbursement will increase to € 20 from the beginning of a week and the maximum amount to € 160. For contracts related to broadband connections, also the range of variation in the data transmission velocity must always be mentioned. TV licence fee to increase The TV licence fee will increase by six percent at the turn of the year. The increase is based on the proposal by the YLE's Administrative Council. The new annual fee will be € 244.90. The annual fee is thus increased by € 13.85. A state joint stock company to look after piloting The business of the Finnish State Pilotage Enterprise will be transferred to Finnpilot Pilotage Oy owned wholly by the state. The company will start its operations on 1st January 2011. Its activities extend from providing piloting services to other service activities for waterborne traffic in Finnish waterways. In addition, through its subsidiary the joint stock company will offer services providing advice on ice conditions for maritime traffic. The ownership steering of the company resides with the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Increase to fees collected by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency A nine percent increase on average will be applied to fees collected by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi). The highest increases will be applied to maritime fees (12-13%) and driving test fees for road traffic (40% on average). Other road traffic fees will mostly remain at the current level. The regulation pertaining to fees will be in effect until the end of 2012. Air transport oversight fee to one euro The air transport oversight fee will increase from € 0.80 to € 1. The oversight fee is to be applied to all air passengers over two-years old. The fee will be applied only once the sum accumulated from airport passenger numbers has exceeded € 20,000. The responsibility for collecting the oversight fee falls on the aviation authority, i.e. the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, while the liability for payment falls on the operator of the airport. Tighter regulations to control foreign vessels The system of inspection of foreign vessels will change. In future, the inspections will primarily focus on vessels which are associated with a great security risk.
Also the inspection system and follow-up of breaches will be made more efficient. For example, for vessels which repeatedly break the regulations it is possible to deny access to ports of the countries who are parties to the cooperation protocol of the EU and Paris.
The City of Tampere to arrange public transport in its region
The Public Transport Act will change so that the City of Tampere will become the competent authority for bus and light rail transport in the Tampere region.
The region under the authority of the City of Tampere will include, apart from its own area, the areas of the municipalities of Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Vesilahti and Ylöjärvi. The purpose of the changes is to support regional development and create conditions for the improvement of the service standards in public transport.
