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Television blackspots - Alternative technical solutions program
The Australian Government's $13.3 million Television Black Spots--Alternative Technical Solutions Program has been developed to further improve television reception in regional areas.
Building on the $35 million Television Black Spots Program, which supports improved television reception through analog retransmission, this new funding will support the development of alternative technical solutions to assist eligible applicants who could not be assisted under the Television Black Spots Program. This is either because frequencies are unavailable or an analog retransmission solution is not viable because an analog retransmission facility was unable to cover at least 80 per cent of the households in the black spot area.
The following options have been identified as possible alternative technical solutions:
- digital retransmission facilities;
- direct-to-home satellite reception equipment; or
- cabling (in the event other solutions are not viable).
Funding of up to $300 000 per black spot will be available to assist with the cost of purchasing and installing equipment. However, consistent with the Television Black Spots Program, funding will not be available to meet any ongoing costs that may be incurred.
Where direct-to-home satellite is offered as the solution, up to $1200 per household will be available, but the community is not to exceed the total funding cap of $300 000 per black spot. For example:
- for a black spot with 100 households, funding of $120 000 will be offered; or
- for a black spot of 300 households, a maximum of $300 000 will be offered, reducing the subsidy to $1000 per household.
A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Department and the Australian Communication and Media Authority will consider solutions for black spot areas and advise the coordinating bodies of their recommendation. It is at this stage that the coordinating body will be invited to submit a formal application for funding and a comprehensive budget.
Please read the Television Blackspots - Alternative Technical Solutions Program Guidelines, revised 26 March 2003, or download 
Television Blackspots - Alternative Technical Solutions Program Guidelines (File size: 484Kb) for more detailed information.
Contact
For information about the Program phone 02 6271 1000.
Many reception problems and interference complaints are caused by deficiencies in receivers, inadequate or faulty antenna installations or by attempting to receive broadcasting services that are too far away for reception to be reliable. If you are experiencing reception problems in your home, please visit the 
ACMA - Television reception and interference website for information that may help you to resolve these problems.