Vision for Community Use of Digital Television Spectrum

Community television bridges difference, taking grassroots stories and issues to a wide audience and ensuring that our diverse communities are visible and accessible.

Digital free-to-air television will do more. It will deliver niche programming, educational resources, local information and access to cultural heritage. For these services to emerge, a full digital channel must be made available for community use.

A full 7MHz digital channel

Australia’s commercial and national broadcasters commenced digital television transmission in 2001 using spectrum provided free of charge. Despite a longstanding commitment, the government is yet to allocate a channel for community television services.

A full digital channel for community use will connect Australia’s communities, education sector, cultural institutions and independent producers with new audiences and stimulate programming innovation:

• Dedicated channels for specific communities, for instance an Indigenous channel
• Local programs, entertainment and information
• A space for independent digital media production, both professional and amateur
• On-demand information relating to group activities (membership, donation forms, fact sheets), building a multiplatform presence for civil society organisations
• Educational courseware with related content
• An entry-point to cultural archives and collections
• Access to government information and local issues, including programs that allow for citizen input into national debate.

Innovation

Community broadcasting plays an important role in the Australian creative economy. Community television is already the major training ground for the television industry, preparing talent and production crew for the commercial and national broadcasters. Digital community television will provide up-to-date industry experience, boosting Australia’s creative workforce and encouraging content innovation.
About the Community Spectrum Taskforce

On 13 Dec 2005, C31 Melbourne and the School of Applied Communication at RMIT University (Australia) held a symposium entitled ‘Building a Vision for the Community Use of Digital Spectrum’. The symposium was attended by a range of industry, community, government, academic and technical experts and generated debate on the future community use of digital spectrum, encompassing:

• Existing and new content forms
• Emerging media technologies and possible community uses
• Prospects for digital media literacy at the community level
• Digital television policy
• New participants and partners in digital television services
• Potential partnerships with industry for R& D and training (talent/expertise, technology trials and content innovation)
• Implementation options (financial, management and regulatory).

This submission presents a starting point from which to consider future digital community television services. The Community Spectrum Taskforce, established at the symposium, will undertake a wider community consultation process over the coming months, resulting in a comprehensive strategy for digital community television.

The Community Spectrum Taskforce aims to:

• Raise awareness amongst community television users, audiences, producers, trainers and partners
• Connect existing and potential partners; and
• Provide input into the policy process.

Prepared by Ellie Rennie for the Community Spectrum Taskforce (March 2006)

A Vision for the Community Use of Digital Television Spectrum