RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Australian Broadcasting Authority
(ABA) conduct an education campaign to make consumers aware of the planned
changes, of what they mean to consumers and of the possibilities of digital
terrestrial television broadcasts.
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Department of Communications and
the Arts and the Australian Broadcasting Authority report in a separate
addition to their Annual Reports until the year 2010 on the:
- progression of the conversion to digital television plans
- consultation process in relation to the implementation of those
plans
- development of the regulatory framework and
- progression of the take-up of digital television as appropriate
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends an amendment to Clauses 5 (2) and 17 (2)
of the proposed Schedule 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act
1992 to include as a policy objective of the legislation, that
Australian content standards currently applicable to analog broadcasting
should also apply to digital broadcasting.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that once a choice has been made between
the ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) and the DVB (Digital
Video Broadcasting) standards, the setting of other necessary standards
in relation to the transmission and reception of digital television must
be undertaken with the aim of achieving compatibility of approach for
the consumer.
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that all the reviews scheduled to be carried
out before the year 2001 be undertaken at the earliest possible opportunity.
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that the Department of Communications and
the Arts table an interim report in Parliament by the end of 1999 on the
stages reached on any review yet to be completed.
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that the government should consider the granting
of special licence rebates over a period of 8 years to regional broadcasters
to assist them with some of the costs of digital conversion.
Recommendation 8
The committee recommends that the government also consider means of
assisting regional television licensees with concessional access to digital
transmission equipment operated by the National Transmission Network whether
that Network is government-owned or privately owned.
Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that the review into providing additional
services in underserved areas, to take place by 2001, specifically address
whether these services could be introduced through allowing limited multi-channelling,
subject to certain minimum conditions being met for the broadcast of high
definition digital television (HDTV).
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the government should further consider
means of encouraging opportunities for Australian manufacturing industry
arising from digital conversion.
Recommendation 11
The Committee recommends that the issue of audio description for digital
television be referred to the high level Consultative Group on Digital
Television established by the Minister for Communications, the Information
Economy and the Arts on 29 April 1998 for report by the Minister to the
Parliament before the middle of 1999.
Recommendation 12
The Committee recommends that the planning committee advising on standards
and compatibility requirements consider the issue of standardising open
and closed captioning, audio description and other enhancements for viewers
with disabilities in order to achieve a simple-to-use approach.
Recommendation 13
The Committee recommends that the Bills be passed.