1. The document discusses digital radio regulation and rollout in Australia, including the transition from analog to digital radio broadcasting. Key points covered include the regulatory framework, rollout of DAB+ technology in major cities, and access arrangements for broadcasters to transmit signals via multiplexes. 2. It also examines international developments in digital radio technologies like DAB, DRM and satellite radio. Emerging platforms such as online streaming and mobile apps are shifting how listeners access radio content. While digital radio uptake has increased, alternative online services now compete with traditional broadcast radio. 3. The review will analyze issues related to technological developments, spectrum access, regulation of digital radio services, and the effectiveness of multiplex access arrangements. Stake

1. Electronic Radio
Introduction
Digital stereo solutions have been available in Modern australia since 2009.
Nationwide and professional electronic stereo solutions have been transferring in
Adelaide, Queensland, Victoria, Perth and Modern australia since 1 July 2009. Group
stereo tv producers formally launched their electronic stereo solutions in these
markets in May 2011. Digital stereo tests, currently being performed in Canberra and
Darwin, were recently extended until 31 August 2014. Around 64 per penny of the
Australia inhabitants now live in places protected by electronic stereo transmissions.
The Reverend for Emails is needed to cause to be performed two legal opinions of
electronic stereo problems by 1 Jan 2014 in accordance with area 215B of the
Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) and area 313B of the Radiocommunications Act
1992 (Radiocommunications Act). Given that the issues needed to be looked at by
each of these comments are interrelated, the Reverend has decided they be analyzed
in a combined procedure. That procedure will be informed by responses to this
conversation document as well as consultations with stakeholders, such as
international organisations and regulators (which have already commenced).
The issues to be analyzed by this conversation document include:
1.the growth of various terrestrial and satellite tv technological innovation capable of
transferring electronic stereo transferring solutions and restricted datacasting
solutions in Australia;
2.the use of variety for the transferring of electronic stereo solutions and restricted
datacasting solutions in Australia;
3.the implementation of those technological innovation in foreign countries;
4.the operation of the BSA in so far as it deals with the certification and regulation of
electronic stereo and restricted datacasting services;
5.the accessibility to extra regularity applications for the transferring of electronic
stereo transferring solutions and restricted datacasting solutions in Australia; and

2. 6.the effectiveness of the multiplex accessibility program applied by the Australia
Competitors and Customer Percentage.
This conversation document will also consider growing trends in the ways in which
viewers accessibility stereo solutions since the commencement of electronic stereo
solutions, with a particular focus on the use of linked gadgets and JIAYU S3 mobile
phones.
Full details of the legal requirements of each evaluation are offered at Attachment A
and the Reverend will prepare an article on the two opinions to be tabled in each
House of the Parliament.
This conversation paper
This document provides a brief overview of the circumstances must be analyzed by
the evaluation procedure, as well as a brief conversation of the legal structure and
existing status of electronic stereo in Modern australia and international. It also
considers the growth of new and growing solutions such as on the internet cellular
solutions and their effect on the growth of electronic stereo.
Submitters can, if they wish, react to some or all of the key problems brought up
throughout the conversation document, or increase a matter not clearly resolved
provided that it is relevant to the regards to referrals of one or both of the opinions.
Written distribution with regards to electronic stereo questions brought up in this
document, general statements and new ideas are also welcome. Details of how to
make a distribution can be seen in Aspect 5.
Part 1: The regulating framework
The regulating structure for electronic stereo in Modern australia is set out in the BSA
and the Radiocommunications Act. The structure was implemented in the
Broadcasting Regulation Change (Digital Radio) Act 2007, which was passed by the
Australia Parliament in May 2007, amending the BSA and the Radiocommunications
Act. The following season, the structure was modified slightly by the Broadcasting
Regulation Change (Digital Radio) Act 2008.
Key aspects of the electronic stereo framework

3. Digital stereo solutions are intended to function alongside, rather than replace,
existing analogue (AM and FM) stereo solutions. This is a different approach from
that taken for electronic tv. There are currently no plans to change off analogue
stereo solutions, nor is there any requirement to simulcast both analogue and
electronic stereo solutions.
Digital stereo was made to be introduced in stages, commencing first in places,
where new releases were regarded most likely to be commercially viable.
Broadcasting legislation allows for tv producers in places outside of the five landmass
condition capitals to approach the Australia Emails and Press Power (ACMA) about
the preparing of electronic stereo solutions in their place. Under the BSA, the
Reverend for Emails can specify a electronic stereo begin up day in a local permit
place by means of a legal instrument. Once certain other pre-conditions are met, the
ACMA must in turn announce the same electronic stereo start-up day. The
technological innovation currently being used to give electronic stereo solutions in
Modern australia is an innovative form of Digital Sound Broadcasting (DAB)
technological innovation known as DAB+ (DAB is also known as Eureka 147).
Additional details about electronic stereo technological innovation in Modern
australia and international can be seen in Aspect 3.
The ACMA has variety preparing powers with regards to electronic stereo and has
recognized 14 MHz of variety that will not be used for tv in non-remote tv permit
places for the use of electronic stereo tv producers. For more details about variety
preparing for electronic stereo, please see Aspect 4.
The electronic stereo structure recognized a new permit classification to
accommodate the distributed transferring infrastructure. Under the structure, the
ACMA has assigned eight electronic stereo multiplex permits to partnership
organizations representing professional and community tv producers. The
partnership organizations are responsible for using a multiplex to combine and
transmit the separate streams of stereo applications from individual tv producers to
end customers in each permit place. Details about the certification program applying
to these multiplexes can also be seen in Aspect 4. The ABC and SBS discuss a
multiplex in all landmass condition capitals.
Division 4B of Aspect 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act sets out an accessibility
program for the multiplex transmitter permits. The accessibility program, which is
applied by the Australia Competitors and Customer Percentage (ACCC), is meant to

4. make sure qualified tv producers have accessibility to the multiplex transferring
support on reasonable circumstances and conditions.
The eight multiplex transmitter licensees have given accessibility tasks to the ACCC
that set out the circumstances and conditions on which they propose to give
accessibility to professional and community tv producers. It is only after an
undertaking has been accepted by the ACCC that ACMA can announce that
electronic stereo solutions can begin in a permit place. The tasks offered by the eight
multiplex licensees were decided to on 22 April 2009 and are available at
http://www.pandawill.com/jiayu-s3-smartphone-4g-lte-mtk6572-octa-core-3gb-
16gb-55-inch-ogs-fhd-screen-black-p97209.html
The electronic stereo partnership organizations are needed to submit annual
opinions to the ACCC. The opinions cover issues relating to compliance with the
legislation and the tasks. The opinions, such as the most latest (2011-12), can be
utilized at: http://www.pandawill.com/elephone-s2-smartphone-50-inch-dual-glass-
4g-64bit-mtk6735-android-51-2gb-16gb-p101877.html
Another key feature of the preliminary electronic stereo regulating structure is a six
season moratorium on the issue of new electronic professional stereo transferring
permits after the electronic stereo start-up day for that permit place. A time interval
of protection from new entrants to the market was included in the structure to give
obligatory professional tv producers a level of stability and certainty during the
preliminary electronic stereo investment phase. The moratorium ends on 30 This
summer 2015 in urban permit places.
Part 2: Restricted Datacasting
As portion of the electronic stereo structure, a new type of support known as a small
datacasting support was recognized. The objective was that holders of a small
datacasting permit would use the DAB+ electronic stereo program to give solutions
other than conventional tv and stereo programming. In particular, it was thought
that niche solutions, such as details only applications, educational applications or
interactive video games, might be offered on these solutions.
During the six season moratorium interval which, as mentioned in Aspect 1, ends on
30 This summer 2015, a person is banned from being in a position to exercise control
of both an industrial stereo transferring permit and a small datacasting permit.

5. The ACMA has not launched any restricted datacasting permits since the course was
recognized.
Part 3: The Technological Environment and Viewers Profile
On 14 October 2005, the Govt announced a policy structure to guide improvement
electronic stereo, such as the objective to adopt the DAB conventional. A more
innovative edition of DAB, known as DAB+, was ultimately adopted for the
preliminary rollout of electronic stereo solutions in Modern australia.
National, professional and community electronic stereo solutions currently are
employed all of the landmass condition capitals (Adelaide, Queensland, Victoria,
Perth and Sydney) using DAB+. Trials of electronic stereo solutions using DAB+ are
also going on in Canberra and Darwin.
Internationally, DAB and DAB+ are currently the most widely used electronic stereo
conventional. DAB solutions are offered in about 16 nations, such as North america,
China, Germany, Singapore and the U. s. Empire, with DAB+ solutions operating in
other nations such as Malta and Switzerland.
As in Modern australia, electronic stereo solutions international are also generally
complementary to the suite of analogue AM and FM stereo solutions. However,
several Europe are considering switching off certain analogue stereo solutions or
have long-term analogue stereo switch-off plans given that certain circumstances are
met (though none of these nations have met their targets at this stage).
In the U. s. Empire, the media regulator, (Ofcom), has announced a way to determine
a electronic stereo switchover time frame. Digital switchover will commence when 50
per penny of all stereo hearing is via electronic systems, national DAB protection is
comparable to FM, and local DAB protection reaches 90 per penny of individuals and
all major roads (at existing roughly 33.9 per penny of all stereo hearing is electronic
radio). Nationwide DAB protection in the U. s. Empire is at 94.4 per penny for national
broadcaster solutions and 89.5 per penny for professional broadcaster solutions,
while local DAB protection is 71.7 per penny.
However, in latest weeks there has been concern expressed about the prospective
effect on smaller channels of analogue change off. On 28 Nov 2013, the
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Culture, Emails and Creative Industries
told the House of Commons that the Govt would not be pushed into a switchover

6. time frame and indicated that before change off could occur there would need to be
better protection, cheaper electronic stereo sets, more vehicles with DAB fitted as
conventional and better material.
In Norwegian, the Govt has announced that FM transferring will switch-off in Jan
2017, offered community and professional tv producers achieve over 99 per penny
and 90 per penny electronic stereo protection respectively (at existing DAB
protection concerns 84 per cent). Currently, 50 per cent of audience in Norwegian
use a electronic program daily and in-car solutions are readily available.
DRM
DRM was created by a Western consortium to give a electronic transferring program
suitable for the Medium Frequency (AM) group. DRM is a set of electronic audio
transferring technological innovation meant to work over the groups currently used
for AM transferring, particularly shortwave. DRM can fit more applications than AM,
at excellent quality, into a given quantity of bandwith useage, using various
compression techniques. The original DRM conventional is now commonly known as
DRM30. It operates on frequencies below 30 MHz. An extra DRM conventional,
DRM+, is currently being tested, with the expectation that it will be able to function
in the VHF groups.
The evaluation performed this season under area 215A of the BSA regarded
technological innovation for electronic stereo solutions in local Modern australia. A
common theme in many distribution from the first evaluation was that DRM30 could
offer economical, wide-area protection similar to high- power local AM stereo
solutions and DRM+ had prospective to give wide-area protection equivalent to local
FM stereo solutions. However, distribution also mentioned that a lack of available
receivers is the main drawback to adopting DRM at the moment.
DRM is currently being rolled out in India. It is also used in Europe, Japan and the
Americas for international transferring solutions such as BBC Worldwide.
ISDB-T
ISDB-T, which was made and is used in Japan, is regarded by some as drawing upon
several of existing technological innovation, particularly DAB. However, ISDB-T’s
distinctiveness lies in the fact that it blurs the distinction between audio media and

7. audiovisual media, so that the transmitted media material the customer is able to
receive is mostly dependent on the type of receiver.
IBOC
In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) also known as HD Radio, which has been used in the U. s.
Declares, is a multiple method of transferring electronic and analogue stereo
transmitted signals simultaneously on the same regularity. However, disturbance to
channels on adjacent applications has been a major problem with the IBOC
technological innovation.
Satellite Digital Sound Radio Services
Satellite is also used in some nations as an extra stereo distribution program. In fact,
satellite tv technological innovation is used to deliver several of electronic stereo
solutions in Modern australia. For example, ABC and SBS analogue and electronic
stereo solutions are available on the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) support
and about 30 registration stereo solutions are available through Foxtel.
The U. s. Declares and North america offer registration satellite tv electronic stereo
solutions supplemented by a network of terrestrial repeaters. Satellite stereo has had
a difficult history in the U. s. Declares where the two leading satellite tv stereo
organizations, XM and Sirius, were banned for many years from merging on anti-
competitiveness grounds. However, the firms eventually merged to become SiriusXM
Radio in 2008, with media opinions indicating that the firms had successfully argued
that satellite tv stereo was just one voice within a market which includes not only
terrestrial stereo but on the internet loading, mp3 players and pills. According to its
website, SiriusXM now has 25.6 thousand subscribers. Subscription satellite tv stereo
solutions are also offered in the Middle East and Japan.
Online and other platforms
Digital stereo roll out up to now in Modern australia has focused on the
‘traditional’ model of one-to-many terrestrial transferring using electronic
distribution formats. These solutions potentially offer benefits such as better quality
audio, more applications, and possibly new releases but their prospective for
interactivity and direct user choice is restricted.

8. Radio solutions have been streaming over the web for many years. Australia stereo
tv producers have recognised the use of alternative systems to complement their
conventional transferring solutions. For example, the ABC’s stereo solutions now
comprise conventional analogue stereo, podcasts, electronic stereo such as several
new applications provided exclusively in gifs, streaming stereo solutions on the
internet, and Elephone S2 cell phone applications optimised for both iOS and
Android systems. Services can be obtained through analogue and electronic
terrestrial stereo transmitted, terrestrial tv, the world wide web, cellular and satellite
tv. Likewise, professional stereo tv producers are also progressively loading their
solutions to make sure they can be utilized through on the internet systems, pills and
mobile phones. Southern Cross Austereo, for example, advises that it has over 80
websites reaching more than 885,000 audience members each month, as well as
using applications, m-sites and social networking.
In a latest variety of the linked consumer, Nielsen outlines that material that was once
only available to customers through specific methods of distribution is progressively
being sourced and sent to customers through their linked gadgets. Nielsen estimates
that six in 10 Australia internet customers have a smart phone and three in 10 have a
product in their household. By Feb 2014, Nielsen anticipates that seven in 10 internet
customers will have a JIAYU S3 smart phone and 50 percent will have a product in
their household. The ACMA opinions that 62% of Australia adults now search on the
world wide web via cellular handsets (a 19% increase over the first year) and that the
volume of information downloaded on mobiles has grown by 97% in the This
summer one fourth 2013 compared to the This summer one fourth 2012.
This growth of on the internet cellular use has been accompanied by important
changes in the types of solutions available such as Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn Radio,
iHeartRadio and iTunes stereo. These solutions allow audience to accessibility
accounts through multiple gadgets, wirelessly integrate them with home and car
stereos through bluetooth or other applications and offer an extra program for
loading music and hearing to stereo solutions. The rapid growth in these alternative
systems and solutions will effect on the stereo industry in Modern australia in ways
which are difficult to predict, but they represent a important paradigm shift in
hearing and information-gathering routines which are likely to have implications for
electronic stereo solutions.
Audiences

9. There is little definitive community information on electronic stereo hearing routines
in Modern australia, however Pricewaterhouse Coopers reported that 1,002,966
electronic radios had been sold across Modern australia by Nov 2012. There are
several of opinions that on the internet stereo, utilized either through the listener’s
Elephone S2 smart phone or, progressively, through an internet-enabled
entertainment program in the listener’s car, is starting to compete with electronic
stereo solutions. Nielsen opinions that 5 thousand Australians utilized on the internet
channels in the six months to May 2013 compared to 4.7 thousand in the six months
to May 2012 (a six per penny increase). Australia internet customers are spending an
average of eight and a 50 percent hours a week hearing to conventional transmitted
stereo, however, on the internet stereo hearing now symbolizes around 50 percent
that time interval (4 hours 18 minutes a week). The Australia Mobile Phone Lifestyle
Index (AMPLI) evaluation launched in October 2013 discovered that 40 per penny of
respondents streaming music on their cell phone – almost double the 21 per penny
recorded this season.
Approximately 34 per penny of stereo hearing in Modern australia occurs in the car.
In-car and in-home hearing of stereo and other audio is progressively being achieved
by loading information over ip address utilising wireless and fixed on the internet
connections. The increased accessibility to so-called ‘connected’ vehicles may
further promote such hearing in the future. Hybrid stereo and audio technological
innovation that utilise both variety and ip address are also currently being developed.
Part 4: Spectrum and licensing
Spectrum
In This summer 2010, the Reverend for Emails launched the Australia Emails and
Press Power (Realising the Digital Dividend) Direction 2010 directed the ACMA, as
portion of its variety preparing functions in respect of the electronic results, to
consider reserving
14 MHz of variety in each urban permit position for the provision of electronic stereo
transferring solutions. The ACMA has recognized this quantity of variety that will not
be used for tv solutions in non-remote tv permit places for the prospective future
release of electronic stereo solutions.

10. 14 MHz symbolizes the most of transferring variety available for DAB+ electronic
stereo solutions, as the remaining VHF Band III variety has been planned for use by
electronic tv solutions. In some cases, this variety will not be available until the
restack of electronic tv solutions to realise the electronic results is completed. Any
rollout of DAB+ electronic stereo solutions to local permit places using 14 MHz of
variety would involve consideration of prospective disturbance problems and lift
other technical, legal and policy considerations.
While the BSA and Radiocommunications Act do not specify the technological
innovation to be used for electronic stereo solutions, the legal structure reflects the
DAB environment. The existing provisions require licensees to be investors in a
Combined Project Company (JVC) and offer qualified ‘access seekers’ rights to use
prospective on a multiplex.
In the five urban permit places, all professional licensees have selected to become
investors in JVCs and community tv producers have selected to become accessibility
seekers. The Radiocommunications Act also allows each of the national tv producers
to be JVC investors.
Licensing
As mentioned above, the certification structure for electronic stereo is recognized by
the Radiocommunications Act using a multiplex transmitter permit classification
program. Digital stereo multiplex transmitter (DRMT) permits are split into categories
1, 2 and 3.
Category 1 and classification 2 DRMTs are able to be announced ‘foundation
licences’ by the ACMA (sections 98C and 98D of the Radiocommunications Act
refer). Base permits offer certain ‘standard accessibility entitlements’ for obligatory
licensees, namely:
1.One 9th of multiplex prospective under a basis classification 1 or classification 2
DRMT is arranged for each obligatory electronic professional stereo licensee in the
community.
2.Two ninths of multiplex prospective under a basis classification 1 or classification 2
DRMT is arranged for community tv producers.

11. 3.One 9th of multiplex prospective under a basis classification 2 DRMT is arranged
for national tv producers.
Foundation DRMT licensees must regarded partnership organizations, shares in
which can only be held by obligatory electronic professional stereo tv producers,
electronic community stereo transferring representative organizations and national tv
producers.
The ACMA has assigned eight foundation classification 1 DRMT permits – two each in
Queensland, Victoria and Modern australia, and one each in Adelaide and Perth. In
Queensland, Victoria and Modern australia, professional and community tv producers
discuss two multiplexes. In Adelaide and Perth, professional and community tv
producers discuss one multiplex. In these distributed multiplexes, two ninths of the
bandwith useage is arranged for community tv producers.
ACMA has not announced any foundation classification 2 DRMT permits.
Category 3 DRMT permits are arranged for the national tv producers. The ACMA has
launched a classification 3 DRMT permit in each urban permit place. The ABC and
SBS discuss a multiplex in all landmass condition capitals.
Using Modern australia, which has three multiplexes, as an example, at existing there
are about 50 electronic channels available. Many of these replicate existing analogue
stereo solutions but about 50 percent are only available in gifs. Special event
electronic only channels are also used for restricted periods on occasion e.g. to
transmitted rock concerts or sports otherwise unable to be protected.
Part 5: Next Steps
The Division of Emails will consider distribution and other input obtained in response
to this conversation document before drafting the variety of the two electronic stereo
opinions. Submissions must be obtained by the Division by 14 Feb 2014.
Submissions should react to some or all of the key problems brought up throughout
the conversation document, or can increase a matter not clearly resolved, provided
that it is relevant to the regards to referrals of one or both of the opinions.

12. Unless a contributor specifies otherwise, the Division will publish each distribution on
its website after the distribution interval has closed. Please indicate whether any
distribution
(or portion of your submission) is private or understanding of make sure it is not
launched. Alternatively, you may choose to give an extra edition of that distribution
for community release.
Submitters of material marked as private or delicate must understand that
distribution may be launched where authorised or necessary for law or for the
purpose of parliamentary processes. The Division will strive to consult submitters of
private details before that details is offered to another body or agency. However, the
Division cannot guarantee that private details will not be launched through these or
other legal means.