Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts
PO Box 6100, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
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ABA
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Australian Broadcasting Authority
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ABC
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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ACCC
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Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
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ACMA
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Australian Communications and Media Authority
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BSA
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Broadcasting Services Act 1992
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BSB
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broadcasting services bands of spectrum
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CCBA
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Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
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CCITA
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House of Representatives Standing Committee on
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
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DCITA
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Department of Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts
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Department
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Department of Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts
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Digital Television Bill
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Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television)
Bill 2006
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DPP
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Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
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Enforcement Powers Bill
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Communications Legislation Amendment (Enforcement Powers)
Bill 2006
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FTA
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free-to-air
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HDTV
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high definition television
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Licence Fees Bill
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Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2006
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MEAA
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Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance
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Media Ownership Bill
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Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill
2006
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Minister
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Minister for Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts
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non-BSB
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non-broadcasting services bands of the spectrum
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Radiocommunications Act
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Radiocommunications Act 1992
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Register
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Register of Controlled Media Groups
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SBS
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Special Broadcasting Service
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SDTV
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standard definition television
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SPAA
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Screen Producers Association of Australia
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TPA
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Trade Practices Act 1974
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| 3G |
Third generation of mobile systems. Provide high-speed data transmission and supporting multimedia applications such as full-motion video, video-conferencing and Internet access.[2] |
| Analogue transmission |
A method of broadcasting based on wave patterns. |
| Apparatus licence |
Grants a right to use spectrum. It is relatively prescriptive, restricting use of spectrum to a particular type of equipment (or apparatus) using a particular frequency in a particular region. |
| Bandwidth |
The difference between the lowest and highest frequencies being used. The range of frequencies occupied by a signal, or passed by a channel. More generally, the information carrying capacity of a band or service. |
| Broadcasting licence categories |
Categories specified under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA):
- national television and radio;
- commercial television and radio;
- community television and radio;
- subscription television;
- subscription broadcasting and narrowcasting (which includes subscription radio); and
- datacasting.
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| Broadcasting services bands (BSB) |
The broadcasting services bands are the designated parts of the radiofrequency spectrum which have been referred to the ACMA for planning under section 31 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. Normal analogue commercial broadcasting services (AM and FM radio services and free-to-air UHF and VHF television services) are provided on the broadcasting services bands.[3] |
| Datacasting |
The delivery of content via the BSB in a variety of forms, including: text, data, speech, sound and visual images. Content that is datacast can also be interactive, in the form of computer games or internet-style services. However, genre conditions stipulated in schedule 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, restrict the type of material that can be datacast.[4] |
| Digital television |
A replacement technology for existing free-to-air analogue services. It provides better picture quality and reception, plus a variety of new features that enhance the viewing experience.[5] |
| Digital transmission |
Transmission of data in encoded binary form as zeroes and ones. Digital signals are less prone to distortion and interference than are analogue signals; they are easily encrypted and compressed; and they require less bandwidth. |
| Free to air (FTA) |
Radio and television broadcasts that are intended to be received by viewers free of charge at the point of consumption. |
| High definition television (HDTV) |
HDTV refers to pictures that contain significantly more detail than other pictures as they contain a larger number of pixels. The minimum HDTV picture resolution is 576 lines x 720 pixels at 50Hz progressive scan (576p). HDTV pictures have an image resolution which is superior to SDTV pictures and existing analogue pictures, with up to six times the improvement in detail. HDTV pictures are also ghost free and in widescreen format. A HD set-top box or an HD integrated television set is required to receive HDTV signals.[6] |
| Mobile television |
Television broadcast to mobile devices, primarily mobile phones, capable of receiving television signals.[7] |
| Multi-channelling |
The transmission of more than one stream of programming over a television channel. The ABC may broadcast three programs at the same time, for example. |
| Non-broadcasting services bands (non-BSB) |
Remaining radiofrequency spectrum [outside of the BSB] which is unreserved, and may be used for other services. This [spectrum] is also regulated by ACMA.[8] |
| Open narrowcasting services |
Broadcasting services whose reception is limited:
- by being targeted to special interest groups; or
- by being intended only for limited locations, for example, arenas or business premises; or
- by being provided during a limited period or to cover a special event; or
- because they provide programs of limited appeal.[9]
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| Spectrum |
Bandwidth expressed in terms of the frequencies the system can carry. |
| Spectrum licence |
Grants a right to use a precisely defined piece of spectrum for any purpose, using any type of apparatus, subject to only broad technical requirements designed to minimise interference with other spectrum users. |
| Standard definition television (SDTV) |
The digital television signal, carried in about one quarter of the spectrum capacity of an analogue signal and broadcasting at the same (or similar) resolution as analogue systems, is referred to as standard definition digital television or SDTV. SDTV in 4:3 aspect ratio has the same appearance as analogue television, minus the ghosting, snowy images and static noises.14 The SDTV picture resolution is 576 lines x 720 pixels @ 50Hz interlaced (576i).[10] |