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A Discussion Paper on Digital Radio Broadcasting in Australia

Summary

Comments are invited on the following:

• the DRAC preliminary view that Eureka 147 is the most appropriate delivery system for Australia;
• the relevance of in-band systems for DRB delivery in Australia;
• the use of satellite systems for DRB delivery in Australia;
• existing uses of the L-band and the implications for implementation of DRB;
• the future relative spectrum needs of existing services and DRB (both frequency and geographic sharing requirements);
• sharing of spectrum between existing services and DRB terrestrial and satellite uses of the L-band;
• spectrum planning arrangements;
• whether any special policies may need to be adopted to encourage the supply of inexpensive, mass produced receivers in Australia;
• whether the introduction of DRB would make it necessary to reassess the current broadcasting services objectives;
• whether the industry categories are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the opportunities offered by DRB;
• the types and range of programming and other services that should be expected from DRB;
• whether some people may be disadvantaged by the introduction of DRB and, if so, whether any special consideration should be given and what form this should take;
• the coverage of DRB services, the extent to which they should duplicate analog service coverage, and the pursuit of the opportunities afforded by DRB to provide different coverage patterns;
• whether the present approach to licence areas is appropriate with DRB;
• whether any particular policies need to be established to provide for DRB coverage in regional and remote areas;
• licensing issues for DRB;
• an appropriate licensing framework for DRB which allows for different types of regulation for different types of services;
• whether the ownership and control limitations related to commercial radio broadcasting should be changed with the introduction of DRB;
• whether ownership and control limitations related to commercial radio broadcasting should be imposed upon multiplex operators, and if so what form these limits should take; and
• the role of existing broadcasters in the introduction of DRB, in particular:
  • whether access to DRB should be limited to existing broadcasters during a transitional phase, with aspirant broadcasters assessed on a case-by-case basis in the longer term;
  • whether there should be simulcasting and, if so, appropriate approaches to any simulcasting requirements;
  • the arrangements, if any, that may be required for transition of non-commercial services to digital technology; and
  • the arrangements, if any, that may be required in ending analog services.

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• Document ID: 9341 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 2:24pm