Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 sets out arrangements for the conversion, over time, of the transmission of television broadcasting services from analog mode to digital mode.
A program or service is broadcast or transmitted in analog mode if the program or service is broadcast or transmitted using an analog modulation technique.
A program or service is broadcast or transmitted in digital mode if the program or service is broadcast or transmitted using a digital modulation technique.
Under the arrangements:
- the ACMA is to formulate 2 schemes for conversion: a commercial television conversion scheme and a national television conversion scheme.
- There is to be a simulcast period throughout which national broadcasters are to transmit their television programs in analog and SDTV digital modes.
- At the end of the simulcast period, analog transmissions are to cease.
- National broadcasters will be allowed to use spare transmission capacity on digital transmission channels to provide datacasting services.
- Owners and operators of broadcasting transmission towers must give digital national broadcasters and datacasters access to the towers for the purposes of installing or maintaining digital transmitters.
- There are to be reviews before 1 January 2002, 1 January 2004, 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2006 of certain elements of the digital television regulatory regime.
- The national television conversion scheme may confer on the ACMA a power to make a decision of an administrative character.
The national television conversion scheme is to be divided into 2 Parts:
- Part A is to deal with coverage areas that are not remote coverage areas.
- Part B is to deal with remote coverage areas.
Part A is itself divided into Divisions:
- Divisions 1 to 8 set out a core implementation process that will be followed by national broadcasters. The core process requires preparatory documents, the approval of plans by the Minister, the issuing of transmitter licences, the formal start of the simulcast period and the winding‑up of existing analog broadcasting arrangements.
- Division 9 sets out special circumstances in which a broadcaster may obtain the ACMA’s approval to transmit in digital mode, before the core process is completed, to test the broadcaster’s ability to broadcast.
- Division 10 sets out other circumstances in which a broadcaster may obtain the ACMA’s approval to transmit in digital mode before the core process is completed.
- Division 11 sets out administrative arrangements related to the conversion process.
Part A Coverage areas that are not remote coverage areas