42Use of transmission capacity for datacasting services

42 Use of transmission capacity for datacasting services

(1) A national broadcaster that holds a datacasting licence issued in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Act is permitted to use any spare transmission capacity that is available on the national broadcaster’s digital transmission channels for the purpose of the transmission of datacasting services.

Note See paragraph 19 (3) (k) of Schedule 4 to the Act.

(2) However, the national broadcaster must use the capacity in a way that is consistent with the national broadcaster’s transmitter licence issued under section 100B of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

Note A charge is imposed for the use of transmission capacity for datacasting: see the Datacasting Charge (Imposition) Act 1998.

Note: outline of starting digital transmission

An objective of this Scheme is that each national broadcaster will start transmitting in SDTV digital mode by a date that is ascertained in accordance with the implementation plan that the national broadcaster gives to the Minister (see Act, Schedule 4, paragraphs 19 (3) (a) and (b)).

In preparing an implementation plan for a metropolitan coverage area, a national broadcaster should have regard to the policy that transmission in digital mode should commence on 1 January 2001 (see Act, Schedule 4, subparagraph 20 (2) (a) (i)).

In preparing an implementation plan for a regional coverage area, a national broadcaster should have regard to the policy that transmission in digital mode should commence on or after 1 January 2001 so that all regional coverage areas have digital transmission of the service by 1 January 2004 (see Act, Schedule 4, subparagraph 20 (2) (a) (ii)).