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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc
Television funding announced for Woy Woy
Woy Woy is to benefit under a new television black spots initiative announced recently by the Acting Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Rod Kemp.
Woy Woy has been identified as one of 26 black spot areas confirmed as candidates under the program.
Funding of $13.3 million has been allocated over three years to establish the Television Black Spots-Alternative Technical Solutions (ATS) Program.
The program is intended to assist those communities found to be eligible under the Television Black Spots Program, but which could not be assisted because frequencies were unavailable, or for which an analog retransmission solution was not viable.
An analog retransmission facility is not considered to be viable unless it covers at least 80 per cent of households in the television black spot.
The program offered direct-to-home satellite solutions to areas where this is the most appropriate and cost effective option, digital retransmission facilities and consideration of other alternative solutions such as cabling if required.
Digital reception will also be tested in analog black spot areas where digital services have commenced to see if a digital solution is available.
The Government will make funding of up to $300,000 available for each black spot area.
Where direct-to-home equipment is offered as the solution, funding will be up to $1200 per household without exceeding the $300,000 limit per black spot.
Funding will cover initial costs such as equipment, installation and site establishment.
The application for funding was submitted early last year by the South Woy Woy Progress Association, following a survey of residents.
Survey organiser Ms Heather McKenzie said a deposit of $860 had been returned when a technical assessment substantiated the existence of television black spots, but the association had not been informed of the solution proposed for Woy Woy or of the next steps in the process.
Press release, October 4