Beyond switchover: the future technical evolution of digital terrestrial television in Australia – ACMA seeks comment on technical migration issues for digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) services
Submissions received
The submission period has closed and the ACMA received the following responses:
- Alan Hughes
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
- Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) (.doc 898 kb)
- Australian Industry Group (AiGroup)
- Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA)
- Broadcast Australia (.docx)
- Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA) (.doc)
- FOXTEL
- Free TV Australia
- Media Access Australia (MAA) (.docx)
- Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
- Sony Australia
- Telstra
The ACMA has prepared an edited summary of submissions structured around the questions put in the discussion paper. This is designed to assist readers to target particular matters of interest. Readers should refer to individual submissions for complete responses. The summary can be accessed here:
- Report on Submissions (.docx)
Background
The ACMA is seeking comment on possible paths for the technical evolution of digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) in the post-switchover, post-restack environment. The ACMA seeks industry and community comment on the post-switchover, post-restack technical evolution of digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB). The ACMA seeks input on the drivers for change, the paths for implementing change and whether intervention by the regulator is necessary.
In commencing early consultation on standards evolution the ACMA wishes to start a conversation with stakeholders that will canvass things such as what, if any, interventions in the short to medium term may yield benefits in the long term. The ACMA is interested in exploring actions that may be needed now to foster or create the conditions in the DTTB environment for the realisation of benefits for the Australian community once the digital switchover process and the subsequent restack of those services to free up the spectrum is completed.
The discussion paper is available in Word (.docx 244 kb) or PDF (612 kb) formats.
Submissions
Written submissions are welcome. The closing date for submissions is 5:00 pm AEDST on Friday 30 March 2012.
Submissions should be sent to:
By email: DPS@acma.gov.au
By mail:
Technical Migration Discussion paper
Manager – Digital Policy Section
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box Q500
Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
Next Steps
The feedback provided to questions and issues raised in the discussion paper marks a beginning to the ACMA’s engagement with the prospect of future digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) technical evolution and transition. Further consultation and analysis will be necessary to any ACMA strategy with regards to new technical standards for the DTTB platform.
Publication of submissions
In general, the ACMA publishes all submissions it receives.
The ACMA prefers to receive submissions which are not claimed to be confidential. However, the ACMA accepts that a submitter may sometimes wish to provide information in confidence. In these circumstances, submitters are asked to identify the material over which confidentiality is claimed and provide a written explanation for confidentiality claims.
The ACMA will consider each claim for confidentiality on a case by case basis. If the ACMA accepts a confidentiality claim, it will not publish the confidential information unless required to do so by law.
In response to this paper suppliers may provide detailed reports of penetration of certain technologies into the market (e.g. sales figures for MPEG-4 capable equipment). The ACMA recognises the commercial confidentiality that may be associated with these figures and will, where confidentiality is requested for the data, only include aggregated data that is not attributed to particular brands or models in its published summary report. Suppliers should note however that, while relatively unlikely, the ACMA may receive requests for such data under the freedom of information provisions.
When can ACMA be required by law to release information?
Any submissions provided to the ACMA may be released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. The ACMA may also be required to release submissions for other reasons including for the purpose of parliamentary processes or where otherwise required by law (for example a court subpoena). While the ACMA seeks to consult submitters of confidential information before that information is provided to another body or agency, the ACMA cannot guarantee that confidential information will not be released through these or other legal means.
