Germany's organization for the administration of broadcast funds, the Kommission zur Ermittlung des Finanzbedarfs der Rundfunkanstalten (KEF), says it will not provide money requested for a re-launch of digital radio in that country using DAB+ technology. The funding authority distributes revenue generated from the nation's broadcast licensing fees. Germany was one of several European states that opted out of digital radio rollout plans based on first generation Eureka 147 DAB technology. Those reversals were brought on by low consumer adoption rates and economic constraints on multiplex infrastructure build out and operating budgets.

A statement by the KEF listed a number of reasons why it turned down the funding requests, but a primary issue appears to be lack of support for a DAB+ rollout by private broadcasters, some of who are calling the 200 million Euros spent on earlier attempts a waste of public capital.

AR, the nation's joint organization of regional public-service broadcasters, as well as national pubcaster Deutschland Radio, are said to be flummoxed by KEF's declaration. Both groups advocate moving forward with DAB+, and are demanding a review of KEF's decision by government officials.