On 20 January 2010 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a Resolution on the order of remuneration for purchasing the equipment, necessary for receiving digital television.

This Order was prepared as part of the implementation process of the Programme for the switch off of the analogue television and promotion of the digital television in Lithuania, which was adopted by the LR Government Resolution on 28 September 2008.

With the view of the switch off of the analogue television in Lithuania on 29 October 2012 (see IRIS…), the LR Government undertook the initiative to support the welfare recipients in purchasing set top boxes and in this way to accelerate the implementation of the digital terrestrial television in Lithuania.

The coverage of the digital television in Lithuania has been reaching 90 per cent since 2008, however only 10 per cent of the population has the necessary equipment for viewing the digital TV. According to the statistical data approximately 90 per cent of all TV sets in Lithuania are not suited for the reception of digital connection.

In accordance with the mentioned Resolution of 20 January 2010, only families and persons of low income will acquire the right to get the remuneration for purchasing the equipment (set top boxes) for receiving digital television.

The right for such remuneration will acquire only those families and persons, whose monthly income is less than 525 Litas (125 Euros) per capita.

The means for remuneration will be allocated from the State budget and the people will get them from the local Municipality administration.

A person, who applies for the remuneration has to provide the Municipality administration with the income certificate, the request for the remuneration and the documents of purchasing the digital television reception equipment.

The remuneration process will start 6 months prior to the analogue television switch off date (29 October 2012) and will end after 3 months of the analogue television switch off date.