Contributions until exhaustion of 204 million euros. But some formalities are still needed before the green light for the campaign.
by Carmine Fotina
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Contributions until exhaustion of 204 million euros. But some formalities are still needed before the green light for the campaign.
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4 ‘of reading
July 2017, Gentiloni government: in the meetings between the technicians of the ministries concerned, an incentive plan takes shape to help the spread of broadband in the country. Three years and three months later, a first step arrives in the Official Gazette, with the decree of the Ministry of Economic Development which sets the rules for contributions intended to encourage connections between families with an Isee (equivalent economic situation indicator) below 20 thousand euros. Yet it is not certain that the times for the actual go-ahead are so immediate: there is more than one technical requirement, including the publication of an Operating Manual for suppliers to be published by the end of October.
This first round of discounts will be followed by another, in a second phase, intended for families with Isee up to 50 thousand euros and for businesses.
Up to 500 euros for internet and for tablet or pc
The contribution may reach a maximum of 500 euros, in the form of a discount, on the sale price of ultra-broadband internet subscriptions for a period of at least one year and, if provided, of the related activation services. The bonus must also cover the supply of the related electronic devices, such as the modem, and a tablet or personal computer that must be matched to the connection in the package sold by the operator. The “speed” of users in requesting offers will also count, in the sense that the plan will last until the resources are exhausted – in all 204 million – and in any case no later than one year from the start of the intervention.
The recognition of the contribution
The contribution comes indirectly to users in the form of a discounted package. Instead, the operator physically collects the contribution for the discount applied. And only the telecommunication operators that offer the internet service can combine the tablet or pc included in the package. In short, you can’t go to a computer or electronics store and choose your favorite model. This decision has already raised the controversy of distributors and IT product chains.
Interested consumers must submit a request to any sales channel made available by operators accompanied by a copy of their identity document and a self-certification certifying the value of the ISEE below 20 thousand euros and that the members of the same family have not already benefited from the contribution. The operator transmits the data to the portal that must be put online by Infratel, the in-house company of the Ministry of Development, and once the facilitated connection service has been activated and the tablet or PC has been delivered, it also forwards the delivery report signed by the beneficiary and the document certifying the level of service measured.
Within 60 days, Infratel pays the total amount of the contribution for each beneficiary to the operator’s dedicated account, net of 5% to guarantee the correct performance of the service. This sum will be repaid within the term of validity of the Plan, that is one year.
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