Digital Switchover Legislation Discussion Paper

Submissions to the Digital Switchover Legislation Discussion Paper have now closed.

Existing legislation restricts the Australian Government's ability to implement a flexible switchover process that addresses the various technical and other issues affecting digital switchover in different parts of Australia.

The Department examined possible legislative change that may be required to implement an appropriately flexible switchover process.

The Legislative framework for implementing a digital television switchover timetable discussion paper sought public comment on any or all of the following issues.

1. Switchover instrument: an instrument, made pursuant to legislation, which allows a decision-maker to sign off on the switchover for a particular area.
2. Timing: switchover dates should be able to be brought back as well as put forward.
3. Smaller switchover areas: for full flexibility, the switchover instrument could be allowed to be made down to the individual transmitter rather than only by licence area.
4. Decision-maker: At present, the Governor-General is technically the decision-maker. This could be changed to either the Minister or Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). If the Minister is the decision-maker, should this power be able to be delegated to an officer in the Department?

The Legislative framework for implementing a digital television switchover timetable discussion paper is available in two formats, Adobe pdf and Rich Text Format (rtf).

• Digital switchover legislative framework (PDF, 97.2 kb)
• Digital switchover legislative framework (RTF, 1.5 mb)

Following this consultation, the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill 2008 was introduced in the Senate on 24 September 2008.

Submissions

Submissions to this Discussion Paper have closed.

Submissions received

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (PDF, 141.6 kb)
• Australian Digital Suppliers Industry Forum (RTF, 502.6 kb)
• Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (PDF, 63.7 kb)
• Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (PDF, 79.5 kb)
• Encel, Alex (PDF, 311.6 kb)
• Free TV Australia (PDF, 86.7 kb)
• Hughes, Alan (PDF, 78.1 kb)
• Hughes, Alan (second submission) (PDF, 26.3 kb)
• Leditschke, Ralph (RTF, 29.5 kb)
• Media Access Australia (PDF, 143.9 kb)
• Regional Broadcasting Australia (PDF, 72.8 kb)
• Special Broadcasting Service (PDF, 61.3 kb)

• Document ID: 84099 |
• Last modified: 20 May 2009, 2:14pm