Economy, Communications

French- and Dutch-language broadcast services are provided by the government, with costs defrayed through annual license fees on receiving sets; commercial broadcasting is also permitted. Many foreign broadcasts are also received. In 1997 there were 797 licensed radios and 466 licensed televisions for every 1,000 residents. Belgium has 498 telephone mainlines for every 1,000 people. Some 30 daily newspapers are published.