Following switchover, 1,294 digital television transmitters servicing 367 areas moved to new channels in accordance with a new channel plan. This of channels was required to clear the 700 MHz digital ‘restack’ dividend (channels above UHF 51). The final digital television transmitters were restacked on 9 December 2014. Digital radio Digital radio services, using DAB+ technology in VHF Band III spectrum, have been running on a permanent basis in the metropolitan areas of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney since July 2009. Trials of DAB+ are being conducted in Canberra and Darwin by the peak commercial radio body, Commercial Radio Australia. The trials were to expire on 30 August 2015 but have subsequently been extended. On 8 July 2015, the government published a report prepared by the Department of Communications on digital radio services in Australia. The Digital Radio Report made several recommendations, including the establishment of a Digital Radio Planning Committee for Regional Australia to be chaired by the ACMA. In announcing the release of the Digital Radio Report, the then minister announced that the government expects that the planning committee would give priority to the licensing of permanent digital radio services in Canberra and Darwin, before planning the rollout in new areas of Australia. Broadcasting complaints and investigations The ACMA monitors the number and details of complaints it receives about possible breaches of the BSA, standards, licence conditions and code provisions. Not all complaints are investigated, as the complainant may choose not to pursue the matter further or because the complaint is outside the ACMA’s jurisdiction. Further, since 17 October 2014, the ACMA has had a discretion whether to investigate complaints about broadcasting matters in the public interest. When deciding whether to investigate a particular matter, the ACMA has regard to a range of factors including the nature and seriousness of the issue raised; the applicability of any relevant legislation, code of practice or standard; the potential to affect the community at large and its priority in relation to other matters of public interest. From 17 October 2014 to 30 June 2015, the ACMA exercised its discretion to investigate 61 valid complaints and declined to investigate 35 valid complaints. (Note that multiple valid complaints may concern a single broadcast or matter.) There were 1,012 written complaints and enquiries made to the ACMA about broadcasting matters during 2014–15, a 36 per cent decrease from 2013–14. The number of investigations completed in 2014–15 was 145 (Table 3.7).
Following switchover, 1,294 digital television transmitters servicing 367 areas moved to new channels in accordance with a new channel plan. This ‘restack’ of channels was required to clear the 700 MHz digital dividend (channels above UHF 51). The final digital television transmitters were restacked on 9 December 2014. Digital radio Digital radio services, using DAB+ technology in VHF Band III spectrum, have been running on a permanent basis in the metropolitan areas of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney since July 2009. Trials of DAB+ are being conducted in Canberra and Darwin by the peak commercial radio body, Commercial Radio Australia. The trials were to expire on 30 August 2015 but have subsequently been extended. On 8 July 2015, the government published a report prepared by the Department of Communications on digital radio services in Australia. The Digital Radio Report made several recommendations, including the establishment of a Digital Radio Planning Committee for Regional Australia to be chaired by the ACMA. In announcing the release of the Digital Radio Report, the then minister announced that the government expects that the planning committee would give priority to the licensing of permanent digital radio services in Canberra and Darwin, before planning the rollout in new areas of Australia. Broadcasting complaints and investigations The ACMA monitors the number and details of complaints it receives about possible breaches of the BSA, standards, licence conditions and code provisions. Not all complaints are investigated, as the complainant may choose not to pursue the matter further or because the complaint is outside the ACMA’s jurisdiction. Further, since 17 October 2014, the ACMA has had a discretion whether to investigate complaints about broadcasting matters in the public interest. When deciding whether to investigate a particular matter, the ACMA has regard to a range of factors including the nature and seriousness of the issue raised; the applicability of any relevant legislation, code of practice or standard; the potential to affect the community at large and its priority in relation to other matters of public interest. From 17 October 2014 to 30 June 2015, the ACMA exercised its discretion to investigate 61 valid complaints and declined to investigate 35 valid complaints. (Note that multiple valid complaints may concern a single broadcast or matter.) There were 1,012 written complaints and enquiries made to the ACMA about broadcasting matters during 2014–15, a 36 per cent decrease from 2013–14. The number of investigations completed in 2014–15 was 145 (Table 3.7).
ACMA%20Communications%20report%202014-15%20docx.docx