Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Act 2011

The Australian Parliament passed the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Act 2011 (the Act) on 10 May 2011. The Act received Royal Assent on 26 May 2011.

The Act amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority with improved planning and enforcement powers to ‘restack’ digital television channels and release spectrum following the closure of analog television services. The spectrum that will become available as the result of digital switchover is known as the digital dividend.

On 24 June 2010, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced that the Australian Government has decided to release 126 megahertz of broadcasting spectrum as the digital dividend.

The Act also amends the BSA to improve the operation of the digital television services provided by satellite licensed under section 38C of the BSA and other related digital television regulatory matters.

Exposure draft of the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Bill 2011

On 20 December 2010, the department released an exposure draft of the Bill for public comment. Submissions to the exposure draft process closed on Friday 14 January, with extensions granted to stakeholders upon request until 19 January 2011. Submissions received as part of the exposure draft process (published below) were taken into consideration when finalising the Bill for introduction into Parliament.

The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee also undertook an inquiry into the provisions of the Bill. Thereport of that inquiry is on the committee’s website.

Exposure draft of the Bill

Submissions

Six submissions regarding the exposure draft of the Bill were received and are available to view below.

 
 
 
 
Document ID: 132048 | Last modified: 5 July 2011, 2:46pm