ACCC begins consultation on digital radio access undertakings

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a discussion paper on access undertakings submitted by eight digital radio multiplex transmission licensees.

Digital radio services are to commence in some capital cities in the first half of 2009. The legislative framework provides for the allocation of digital radio multiplex licences to joint venture companies representing commercial and community broadcasters.  The joint venture companies will be responsible for multiplexing together the separate streams of content from individual broadcasters and transmitting a combined stream to end users in each licence area.

It is only after an undertaking has been accepted by the ACCC that the Australian Communications and Media Authority can determine that digital radio services may commence in that area.

The eight identical undertakings propose the terms and conditions on which the multiplex licensees will provide access to the digital radio multiplex transmission service to broadcasters. The ACCC must determine whether to accept or reject the undertakings using the decision-making criteria it made under section 118NJ of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

As part of assessing the undertakings, the ACCC is inviting interested parties to respond to issues raised in the discussion paper, which will be available from the ACCC website, www.accc.gov.au. Submissions should be provided by Friday 21 November 2008.

For media inquiries to the ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, or Mr Michael Cosgrave, Group General Manager, Communications Group, please call Ms Lin Enright, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520.  For general inquiries, please call the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.

To receive an email update on any changes to the status of this matter, please go to www.accc.gov.au, click  For regulated industries, then Communications, Current projects and consultations and click on the name of the matter and enter your email address under Notify me.

To receive updated information and alerts from the Media Centre please go to www.accc.gov.au, click Media Centre, news releases and enter your email address under Notify me.