The Government has offered Australia's three mobile operators, and vividwireless, renewal of their existing spectrum allocated on 15 year licences in the late 90s and early 2000s at set prices, while the Government expects to rake in $3 billion.
In October 2008, Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, said the Federal government had "been working through a variety and considering a variety of options to assist in the transition, but at this stage we have not been able to resolve some of the difficulties. But we are confident that we will find an outcome that will deliver an enhanced community broadcasting outcome."
There have been suggestions that the 2009-10 Federal budget will include funding to help community broadcasters go digital.
Community stations currently operate in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
A Perth station is expected to start operating later this year following the 2008 collapse of the previous licensee.
The government's timetable for the switch to all-digital TV transmission shows the final analogue switch-off on 31 December 2013.
"Digital television switchover is our biggest national format change since the swap to decimal currency and it is important that Australia get ready," Conroy said last month.
"More than 42 per cent of households already have at least one digital-ready TV," he added.
David Bass
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