EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the Australian Communications and Media Authority
Broadcasting Services (Digital Television Format – Audio Component – Transmissions in SDTV Digital Mode) Technical Standard 2007
Broadcasting Services Act 1992
Legislative Provisions
Section 130A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (“the Act”) was inserted by the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Act 2006 and allows the Australian Communications and Media Authority to determine technical standards for digital television transmissions.
A technical standard determined under subsection 130A(1) of the Act is a legislative instrument for the purposes of section 5 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Purpose
The Broadcasting Services (Digital Television Format Standards) Regulations 2000 cease to have effect from 5 May 2007 as a result of the empowering provision in clause 39 in Part 4 of Schedule 4 to the BSA being repealed. The Broadcasting Services (Digital Television Format – Audio Component – Transmissions in Digital Mode) Technical Standard 2007 (the Technical Standard 2007) will continue the requirements in the Regulations that television programs transmitted in SDTV digital mode that have an audio component are capable of being decoded by receivers that only have MPEG-1 Layer 2 capability.
Background
To maximize the likely uptake of digital receivers in the year 2000, a decision was taken by the then Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts that all Standard Definition transmissions should, at least, include the MPEG-1 Layer 2 capability. MPEG-1 Layer 2 is a digital audio stream that meets particular international standards and involves the coding of moving pictures and the associated audio data for digital storage media. Specifying MPEG-1 Layer 2 capability means receivers could be built and marketed with some certainty that audio reception would be commonly available across all services.
While all Standard Definition transmissions must include this capability, the technical standard is not intended to limit the range of additional alternative audio standards that a broadcaster might use.
Consultation
External consultation was carried out with the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
The Office of Best Practice Regulation did not require a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The introduction of the Technical Standard 2007 simply continues existing arrangements and has no additional impact, direct or indirect, on business. The RIS identification number for this issue is to be advised.
Details of the Standard are set out in Attachment 1.
ATTACHMENT 1
Notes on the instrument
Section 1 Name of Standard
Section 1 provides for the name of the Standard as the Broadcasting Services (Digital Television Format – Audio Component – Transmissions in Digital Mode) Technical Standard 2007.
Section 2 Commencement
Section 2 states that the Standard commences on 5 May 2007. This ensures the Standard commences at the same time the Regulations are repealed.
Section 3 Definitions
Section 3 defines certain terms as they are used in this Standard and notes where definitions of other terms may be found. In particular, the definition for MPEG-1 Layer 2 is substantially the same as the definition of that term in the repealed Broadcasting Services (Digital Television Format Standards) Regulations 2000. One difference is that the reference to ISO/IEC 13818-3 second edition (1998) has been omitted because that international standard sets the requirements for MPEG-2 Layer 2 rather than for MPEG-1 Layer 2.
Section 4 Objects
Section 4 provides that the object of this Standard is to establish a minimum format requirement for the audio component of television programs transmitted in SDTV digital mode.
Section 5 Application
Subsection 5(1) states that the Standard applies to commercial television broadcasting licensees and national broadcasters in relation to the format in which television programs with an audio component are to be transmitted in SDTV digital mode. In addition, ACMA has extended the application of the standard so that it will apply to persons providing a datacasting service (within the meaning of section 6 of the Act) using a Channel A datacasting transmitter licence, or using a Channel B datacasting transmitter licence where the datacasting service is capable of being received by a domestic digital television receiver. A “datacasting service” here includes a number of services that may be provided under those datacasting transmitter licences under the Radiocommunications Act 1992, such as a community television broadcasting service, a narrowcasting service, or a service provided under a datacasting licence issued under Schedule 6 of the Act.
If a person provides a datacasting service using a Channel B datacasting transmitter licence, but that service is not capable of being received by a domestic digital television receiver, the Standard is not intended to apply. For example, if the datacasting service is only capable of being received by a hand-held device, the Standard is not intended to apply. “Domestic digital television receiver” is defined in the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
The purpose of subsection 5(2) is to make it clear that the Standard is not intended to prevent commercial television broadcasting licensees, national broadcasters and the datacasting service providers mentioned in subsection (1) from transmitting in SDTV mode with additional audio components that are not capable of being decoded by a receiver that only has MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio decoding capability. Provided at least one of the audio components of the transmissions has that capability, the relevant licensee will have complied with the Standard.
Section 6 Standard
Section 6 establishes the Standard and links all the sections together by specifying that television programs that are transmitted in SDTV mode must be capable of being decoded by receivers that only have MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio decoding capability. This sets the minimum requirement and will ensure that consumers who have invested in a receiver that only has MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio decoding capability will continue to be able to receive and hear transmissions in SDTV digital mode.