29 July 2004
Proposed changes to radio services in Wagga Wagga area
The Australian Broadcasting Authority is proposing to make channel capacity available for new and improved services in the Wagga Wagga area of New South Wales.
‘The ABA’s proposals follow consideration of requests from the licensees of existing services in the Wagga Wagga area for improvements to their services, and from parties interested in establishing services in the region,’ said Lyn Maddock, Acting ABA Chair.
The ABA is proposing to make FM channel capacity available for transmitters for the Wagga Wagga commercial radio services 2WG (at Gundagai) and 2WZD (Tumut ). The licensee of 2WG and 2WZD has requested these extensions to its services to enable it to resolve reception deficiencies in these areas.
The additional FM channel capacity has been planned by the ABA under the Commercial Radio Blackspots Program. This program is an Australian Government initiative which will provide $5 million over three years to deliver new or improved commercial radio services to regional and remote communities where it has not been commercially viable for licensees to provide coverage. The program will ensure that greater access to commercial radio services is provided to a large number of people located in regional and remote Australia.
The ABA is proposing to increase the power of the service provided by Montreal Community Theatre Inc, which holds a temporary community radio licence at Tumut, and following an expression of interest from 2KY, the ABA is proposing to make a frequency available for a high power open narrowcasting service at Wagga Wagga.
As a result of a request from the ABC, the ABA is also proposing to make channel capacity available for an additional high power national service in Wagga Wagga.
The proposals are contained in the draft variation to the Wagga Wagga radio licence area plan released today for public comment.
Those wishing to comment on the proposal can do so by 20 August 2004. The draft variation to the Wagga Wagga radio licence area plan with an explanatory paper are available from the ABA website or by calling Freecall 1800 810 241.
Media contact Donald Robertson, ABA Manager Media and PR on (02) 9334 7980
