Self-help retransmission
There is a tradition in Australia of smaller or more isolated communities funding the provision of commercial or national broadcasting services that they would not otherwise receive. Under the self-help retransmission arrangements, community groups or local councils purchase and maintain the equipment necessary to receive and locally retransmit a broadcasting service (radio or television) from a nearby terrestrial transmitter or a satellite.
While there are currently no government programs that would provide communities or local councils with financial assistance to establish Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) or commercial self-help facilities, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is funded to operate a self-help scheme.
SBS Self-Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme
The government provides SBS with funding of $500 000 each year to assist communities that wish to establish an SBS radio or television service on a self-help retransmission basis. Under the SBS Self-Help Retransmission Subsidy Scheme, SBS can provide up to 100 per cent of the costs of establishing an SBS radio service (to a limit of $25 000 including GST) and up to 75 per cent of the costs of establishing an SBS digital television service (to a limit of $50 000 including GST).
Further information on this scheme is available among the topics on the 
SBS transmissions web page or by calling SBS on 1800 500 727.
Regional Communications Partnership
In 2000, the $10 million Regional Communications Partnership was jointly established by the Commonwealth and Broadcast Australia, the private owner of the National Transmission Network (NTN). Each party made a $5 million contribution to this scheme, which is administered by Broadcast Australia. The scheme allows self-help retransmission communities in regional and remote Australia that are able to locate their equipment on local NTN sites to pay a subsidised rate to access those sites for a period of 10 years.
It is a matter for community groups or councils to determine whether this represents a more cost-effective way of providing retransmission services than, for example, locating their equipment elsewhere on a non NTN-related site such as a council water tower.
As Broadcast Australia is responsible for administering the scheme, self-help groups seeking subsidised access to NTN sites should contact that company in the first instance:
Business Development Manager, Television
Broadcast Australia
Tel: 02 8113 4666
Fax: 02 8113 4646
Email: info@broadcastaustralia.com.au
Web: www.broadcastaustralia.com.au
