Australians are now eligible for assistance to purchase digital set top boxes.
 Click to enlarge |
Eligible households include Southern and Central NSW, the ACT and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, all of whom can opt into the Government’s Household Assistance Scheme, which kicked off today.
This comes as analogue will be permanently switched off on June 5th next as Australia switches over to digital TV complete with 16 channels including Seven, Nine, Ten and a host of others.
HAS provides supply and installation of a high definition set-top box, a demonstration of how to use the equipment and, where necessary, upgrades to antennas, cabling or satellite equipment, at no cost to eligible recipients.
“As part of the Government’s Digital Switchover, analog TV will be permanently switched off across Southern and Central NSW, ACT and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area on 5 June,” Minister for Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said.
HAS is available to people receiving the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement who do not have access to digital TV.
Centrelink will contact all eligible people across the region.
“I encourage those eligible to access HAS now to ensure installation of digital TV equipment can be scheduled well in advance of switchover on 5 June,” Senator Conroy said.
“The Scheme is part of the Australian Government’s core commitment to provide digital TV access to each and every Australian household by the end of 2013.
For information about the Household Assistance Scheme visit the Digital Ready Website www.digitalready.gov.au or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.
