The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s work in support of the switchover to digital television will not be affected by the closure of a number of regional operational centres, as claimed in newspaper reports today. ACMA is carrying out a program of signal strength measurement designed to support the switchover to digital television.
ACMA’s field strength measurement program, which measures coverage to confirm that digital television is as widely available as analog, is currently funded to the tune of $8.5 million over four years. The program is not dependent upon the existence of regional operational centres. ACMA has staff in the field now conducting digital television coverage measurements and has made no change to its plans as a result of the closure of its operations centres.