$120 million television fund issues paper

Comments invited on $120 million television fund issues paper

Acting Minister for Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts

The Acting Minister for Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts, Mr Peter McGauran, today released
an issues paper on the $120 million Television Fund, to be
established from the proceeds of the sale of the next 16.6 per
cent of Telstra.

The five-year Fund will extend SBS Television to transmission
areas with a population over 10,000 and fix up between
200-250 television reception black spots around the country. It
will provide $10 million towards a second terrestrial
commercial television signal to broadcast self-help
communities in remote areas of Australia, and $2 million over
three years to assist the SBS to establish a New Media Unit.

'As well as those who will benefit from this opportunity to fix a
significant number of television black spots, more than one
million Australians in regional areas will also benefit from the
extension of SBS Television to areas with a population over
10,000,' Mr McGauran said.

'Comments are now invited on the issues paper, which
discusses policy and implementation issues associated with the
Television Fund,' Mr McGauran said.

Guidelines and administrative arrangements for the Fund will
be developed following this public consultation.

'This is an opportunity for interested individuals and
organisations to make comments on the issues raised in the
paper by 20 August 1999.'

Enquiries regarding the Television Fund can be made by calling
(02) 6271 1129 or via email: television.fund@dcita.gov.au.

Comments can be sent via email or to:

General Manager
Public Broadcasting Branch
Department of Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts
GPO Box 2154
CANBERRA ACT 2601

The Television Fund issues paper is available on the
Department of Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts' website at www.dcita.gov.au.

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