The Federal Government has called a tender for the provision of assistance to help households switch over to a digital TV.
The assistance to be delivered initally or the Mildura region in Victoria will help consumers make the full switch to digital broadcasting in the first half of 2010 claims the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
“Getting ready for digital TV is a straight forward and inexpensive task for the vast majority of Australians, however we understand that some people may need practical, in-home assistance to make the switch,” Senator Conroy said.
The Government’s Digital Switchover Taskforce has released a Request for Tender (RFT) for the provision of assistance to eligible households in the Mildura licence area – Australia’s leading digital TV region and the first to make the full switch to digital broadcasting in the first half of 2010.
Senator Conroy previously announced pilot measures to drive the availability of digital television in the Mildura licence area, including a package of in-home assistance to help targeted households.
To be eligible for assistance, households must have at least one resident who is receiving a maximum rate Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer payment, or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) service pension or the DVA income support supplement payment.
The successful respondent(s) to the RFT will be required to supply, install and demonstrate the use of a high-definition digital TV set-top box, and complete any required remedial upgrades to household cabling or antennas.
Digital Switchover Taskforce executive director Andy Townend said lessons learnt from the Mildura pilot will be applied to the switchover across Australia.
“All eligible households will receive a letter inviting them to participate in the program approximately six months before the Mildura licence area is due to switchover next year,” Mr Townend said.
The RFT is available from the AusTender website: www.tenders.gov.au
