Following the decision to extend the DTT subsidy programme, ANACOM and Instituto da Segurança Social (Social Security Institute) have decided to launch an awareness campaign directly targeting those eligible to receive subsidies for the installation of aerials for digital television reception. These are people aged 65 or older, living in situations of social isolation, with an income not exceeding 500 euros per month, who do not have pay-TV and who need to migrate from analogue to digital television.
The target group consists of over 200 thousand people, according to a survey conducted by Social Security.
As the initiative concerns population groups in circumstances that particularly hinder access to information, especially given the situations of social isolation in which they live, ANACOM took the view that directly contacting people was the only way of ensuring that these groups are made aware that the deadline to apply for subsidies has been extended. With the extension, 26 April is the last admissible date for the receipt of applications by PTC, so that people wishing to apply for support must do so at least a few days before the deadline. In this process, the role to be played locally by Instituto da Segurança Social (Social Security Institute) is extremely important.
Each of the more than 200 000 people identified by Social Security will receive a letter at home with the form that needs to be completed to apply for the grant. The letter says that it is still possible to apply for the financial support made available to promote the migration process to digital TV: support for the installation of aerials, worth 61 euros, and if not already requested, support for the purchase of DTT or DTH decoders, up to a maximum of 22 euros. The form that people need to hand in to the local Social Security office is printed on the back of the letter with the address already completed. Local offices will help people complete the form, if they are unable to do so on their own, and validate the information completed on the form.
To ensure that the greatest possible number of people are able to apply for subsidies, ANACOM decided to extend the duration of the DTT subsidy three times: until August 2012, until December 2012 and, recently, until 26 April 2013. After this date has passed, it will no longer be possible to request support.
