Submission to the Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

Please listen to this before you read this document.

Parliament of Australia Submission to the Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

1 After section 27

Contents Please listen to this before you read this document...... Schedule 1—Amendments ...... Explanations...... Paying for the ABC/Radio Australia conversion to Digital Radio ...... Sound files which are really worth a listen ......

Alan Hughes 20170422 Please listen to this before you read this document. A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

Please use a pair of headphones or wide spaced good quality speakers. https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/1305251239-ulaa15570ktwtest-2 It’s foreign language interview received 5200 km path, which is the same distance from Shepparton Vic to Jakarta Indonesia, with all of Australia, Fiji and Nauru, New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands within this distance.

1 Amendments Schedule 1

1 Schedule 1—Amendments 2

3 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983

4 1 After section 27 5 Insert:

(1) 6 27A Shortwave radio services (2) (3) 7 (1) The Corporation must maintain 3 domestic shortwave radio (4) 8 transmission services for the Northern Territory which: (5) 9 (a) cover the same areas of the Northern Territory as the (6) 10 Corporation’s shortwave radio transmission services covered (7) 11 on 30 January 2017; and 12 (b) broadcast the proximate local radio service.(8) (9) 13 (2) The Corporation must maintain an international shortwave radio(10) 14 transmission service for Papua New Guinea and parts of the Pacific(11) 15 which: (12) 16 (a) uses at least 3 transmitters; and (13) 17 (b) broadcasts the Corporation’s international service; and 18 (c) broadcasts programs in languages appropriate for the 19 countries to which they are broadcast. (14)

No. , 2017 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring 3 Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017 Comments on Schedule 1

1. Change to: High Frequency (Short Wave) 2. Change to: Recommence and maintain 3. Change to: high frequency 4. Change to: remote areas of Australia up to the territorial limit (up to 370 km from shoreline) 5. Change to: areas which have no other reliable source terrestrial of ABC Local Radio programs 6. Change to: high frequency 7. Delete: 8. Change the paragraph to: Broadcast the ABC Darwin Local Radio program with appropriate news inserts from all those local radio studios in the coverage area excluding Darwin. This includes the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields WA, Northern SA, Broken Hill, Longreach and Mt Isa. Insert (c) On all station and streaming promotions of local radio and websites are to include the DRM high frequency service on all NT Local radio programs as well as local radio programs from the Kununurra, Broome, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Port Pirie, Broken Hill, Mt Isa and Longreach.

(d) Include in www.abc.net.au/reception ‘s frequency finder all postcodes for the outback areas covered by the high frequency transmissions. Add to the Coverage area estimator the coverage area map of the high frequency transmitters.

(e) Broadcasts must be in Digital Radio Mondiale format using the stereo sound from the Darwin studios and accompanied by the text and pictures from their website. (f) Transmit the Alternate Frequency Table on the DRM transmissions as well as Darwin ABC FM local radio and any ABC DAB+ Darwin transmissions. The table must contain the current transmission frequency which will change between day/night and seasonally.

(h) Delay the Darwin FM and possibly DAB+ , ABC Local radio program signal so that DRM , DAB+ and FM signals are all received at the same time to allow seamless automatic switching between the radio sources without the loss or duplication of program.

(i) provide road conditions for flood and fire on the traffic information channel which is used in automotive receivers and can connect to satellite navigation system (GPS). 9. Change to: Recommence and maintain 10. Replace with; Recommence and maintain the Radio Australia’ s high frequency broadcast service. 11. Change to: all of the International Telecommunications Union Region 3 countries 12. Insert after then number 3: DRM transmitters carrying either; the target country’s language and English language speech programs or stereo programs containing music, Images and multilingual text along with the Multi-lingual Emergency Warning System Alternate frequency table. 13. Replace with: Radio Australia 14. Add the following: to “internet stream and satellite broadcast.” Add (3) The ABC must initiate an upgrade to the Australian Standard 4943-2009 Digital radio— Terrestrial broadcasting to include Part 2 DRM30 and DRM+ making all optional characteristics including those in DAB+ compulsory, although all but vehicle receivers will not be required to decode traffic information. All radios must receive DAB+ and DRM as specified in this standard. It is to push for it to be made compulsory on importers of radios, vehicles and vessels. This standard should be used by importers to specify to manufacturers what their products are required to do when imported in to Australia. These specifications use international standards which are worldwide with the exception of North America. The optional characteristics should be made compulsory to ensure that the Emergency Warning System can show text and maps on both DAB+ and DRM. So every receiver needs to have at least a mobile phone style screen. http://www.drm.org/wp- content/uploads/2015/02/Minimum-Receiver-Requirements_v2-2015.pdf indicates the requirements for DRM receivers, which need DRM+ added. DRM+ is ideal for regional areas. A GPS receiver is in every mobile phone and are now cheap. It should be included in DAB+ and DRM radios so that emergency messages outside the affected area can be ignored. Please note: There is a huge similarity between DAB+ and DRM receivers the main difference is in the frequency range of the tuning and the signal bandwidth. Now that Software Designed Receivers are the new type of radio the differences are easy to implement.

For all high frequency transmission, the transmission frequency selection should selected with the monthly advice of the Space Weather Services section of Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Communications and Media Authority the ITU’s High Frequency Coordinating Committee and the ABC’s transmission contractor. The ABC will negotiate with the HFCC for DRM channel bandwidth of 20 kHz ABC and Radio Australia.

In concert with the Space Weather Service and HF propagation software prior to each season, determine the coverage area of all high frequency transmissions and publish them on the ABC Reception coverage estimator for domestic and on http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/waystolisten

The ABC reception and Radio Australia websites mentioned above should also contain a link to www.drm.org and the latest SAI Global’s Australian Standard 4943 for more information on DRM radio.

The ABC/Radio Australia is to connect the Emergency Warning System of their DRM and DAB+ digital radio systems to produce automated warnings. The connection will be to Bureau of Meteorology’s Tsunami warning network, Geoscience Australia for seismic activity and all the State Emergency services for bushfire, cyclone and flood warnings.

https://shop.abc.net.au/t/formats/electronics must stock DRM/DAB+ radios and the ABC reception and Radio Australia websites should contain a link to those radios.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

Explanations Line 8: “Short wave”, change to “High Frequency (Short Wave)” All other communications in the 3 – 30 MHz range have been internationally called “high frequency” The International Telecommunications Union which is part of the United Nations, has removed the references to wavelengths of radio transmissions a long time ago. We do not talk of a radio station in metres, but in frequency. Similarly the wavelength bands were renamed as frequency bands. As a result short wave became high frequency. This has been the terminology used for long distance two way radios for a long time including two way radios made by Australian manufacturers Barratt Communications and Codan along with GME who makes marine and 4WD radios. Line 10: “The corporation must maintain”, change to “Recommence and maintain” The transmissions need to recommenced before they can be maintained. Line 11: “Northern Territory”, change to “remote areas of Australia up to the territorial limit (up to 370 km from shoreline)” All Australians have an equal right to digital radio regardless of where they are including being on a boat in our territorial waters. Particularly for emergency warnings, which can be continuous without disturbing others outside the affected areas. Warnings need not necessarily be weather related as the ABC implies. What about bushfires, earthquakes and tsunamis? Line 12: “cover the same areas of the Northern Territory”, change to “areas which have no other reliable source terrestrial of ABC Local Radio programs” The coverage area for mobile phones is very similar to that of the ABC’s present coverage, see Telstra’s mobile coverage map1. There are many mobile phone sites on major roads which are not duplicated with ABC local radio on low powered FM. The coverage area of low powered FM is similar to mobile phones, in that each tower only covers one village. By contrast the three high powered High Frequency transmitters in the NT cover the whole territory and more Even the ABC reception website used to say that there was coverage in the Kimberley area of WA. Radio waves ignore political boundaries, so the Alice Springs transmitter is close to the SA border, so was received in Northern SA. The ABC has no published map of the coverage area of the NT HF transmitters, and their reception locator does not mention HF broadcasts at all. All one can assume that the ABC does not know what the coverage area was. An alternative is to install a pair of 250 kW high power DRM transmitter in Kulgera NT which is in the geographic centre of Australia with the aim of covering the whole of our continent

1 https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

and surrounding waters. Kulgera is near the Adelaide – Alice Springs railway. One transmitter will be for local radio and the other can carry Radio National and NewRadio. If there is maintenance required or a failure, then the remaining transmitter can transmit Local Radio because of its Emergency Warning role. This site is also 1540 km North West of Shepparton which would make it much closer to Asia and is not threatened by cyclones making it better for Radio Australia’s Asian coverage. Line 15: “Broadcast the proximate local radio service” ,change to broadcast the ABC Darwin Local Radio program with appropriate news inserts for those outside of Darwin. This also applies to the text and images from the websites. For the Katherine transmitter, these inserts would come from the Katherine and the Kimberley (Kununurra, Broome) studios. For the Tennant Creek transmitter inserts from Alice Springs, Pilbara (Karratha), and North Western Queensland (Mt Isa). For the Alice Springs transmitter, inserts from Alice Springs, WA Goldfields (Kalgoorlie), Northern SA Pt Pirie, Far west NSW (Broken Hill), and Western (Longreach). Note: Radio waves are unaffected by state borders! Insert (c) On all station and streaming promotions of local radio and websites are to include the DRM high frequency service on all NT Local radio programs as well as local radio programs from the Kununurra, Broome, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Port Pirie, Broken Hill, Mt Isa and Longreach. This is to prevent a repetition of a lack of listeners because they don’t know that these broadcasts exist. The HF DRM broadcasts must be promoted (along with the need to buy DRM receivers) on VAST ABC channels for NT on TV and on the local radio channels covering the outback listed above. (d) Include in www.abc.net.au/reception ‘s frequency finder all postcodes for the outback areas covered by the high frequency transmissions. Add to the Coverage area estimator the coverage area map of the high frequency transmitters. It is not surprising that the ABC thinks there is no listeners to their high frequency domestic services. There has never been any mention of them on their NT websites until they decided to switch off the HF broadcasts. There is no mention of them when you use their frequency finder where you put your postcode into their reception page and their coverage estimator does not contain any reference to them. Instead they recommend transmitters thousands of kilometres away which cannot be received at all. The ABC needs to produce coverage area maps by combining the expertise of their transmitter contractor, Broadcast Australia, the Space Weather Service within the Bureau of Meteorology and HF prediction software. These maps should be published on the websites for Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Kimberley, North West, Goldfields, North and West, Broken Hill, Western Queensland and North West Queensland websites along with the national reception website as if they are part of normal reception.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

(e) Broadcasts must be in Digital Radio Mondiale format using the stereo sound from the Darwin studios and accompanied by the text and pictures from their website. ABC Radio Darwin transmits in stereo on FM. The ABC claims that short wave is old technology. The ABC was using antiquated amplitude modulation for their High frequency ABC NT and Radio Australia and 166 metropolitan and country AM transmitters (including many backup transmitters) and 597 FM transmitters. The ABC is trying to use the money saved to extend DAB+ digital radio used in mainland State capital cities, to those who already have good radio and internet services ie in Canberra, Hobart, Gold Coast and Darwin, which are the locations that Commercial Radio Australia also wants to expand to. I note that the ABC are not proposing to switch off the high powered old technology AM transmitters in capital cities where mobile phones cannot receive an AM signal and many other new receivers cannot either. Switching off these AM and FM transmitters will provide enough money for DAB+ expansion and leave HF radio in inland Australia and Radio Australia on air particularly if it is in DRM. Broadcast Australia last year bought 4 high power medium frequency transmitters as replacements, fortunately they are all DRM capable. The DAB+ transmission powers are insufficient to cover the Southern Tablelands from Canberra which is currently covered by AM whereas DRM can, this also applies in the rugged terrain around Hobart and in Darwin where FM radio is limited to less than 100 km radius. The use of DRM on the many back up AM transmitters in regional areas will increase the number of digital receivers sold, making the manufacturers more likely to make receivers for our market. The ABC already has a high frequency DRM capable transmitters in Tennant Creek and Shepparton, 4 new medium frequency DRM/AM transmitters and the other sites are upgradable. Note, that in the DRM mode, the expensive electricity consumption will drop by 50 – 80 %. The DRM signal is free of fading, distortion and noise from existing AM and can transmit stereo sound with pictures and text. All Australians should have equal access to digital radio whether it be DAB+ in the state capitals or DRM elsewhere. This will not only give good sound but also pictures and text to all, particularly in the time of emergencies where the Emergency Warning system works both on DAB+ and DRM. (f) Transmit the Alternate Frequency Table on the DRM transmissions of as well as on Darwin ABC FM local radio and any ABC DAB+ Darwin transmissions. The table must contain the current transmission frequency which will change between day/night and seasonally. This allows the receiver to automatically switch to the best signal. High frequency broadcasting is more reliable when an appropriate frequency is used, this varies from day to night, and the receiver can be made to switch automatically. It also changes with the seasons. The listener uses the names such as ABC NT or Radio Australia to select these programs instead of having to remember a list of frequencies.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

(g) Provide the Emergency Warning System capability, which will automatically source the information from the Emergency Services and include the GPS coordinates of the boundaries of the emergency area. The Emergency Warning System is common to DAB+ and DRM digital radio systems. They wake up the radio and select the frequency and channel containing a loud audible warning along with text and graphics including maps. The addition of the GPS coordinates of the affected area can stop those listeners who are unaffected, from losing the program they were listening to. These listeners could be thousands of kilometres from the emergency. (h) Delay the Darwin FM and possibly DAB+ ABC Local radio program signal so that DRM, DAB+ and FM signals are all received at the same time to allow seamless automatic switching between the radio sources without the loss or duplication of program. If a listener is listening to ABC local radio and drives south from Darwin, The receiver may select the DAB+ signal if it exists otherwise it will select an FM stereo signal, when that signal becomes too weak, it will automatically switch to the HF DRM signal. This may occur multiple times. The DRM signal is stored when it is created and again in the receiver so that error correction can occur. This also occurs in DAB+ digital radio. You can hear that when you switch from analog radio to digital radio the signal is repeated for a few seconds. So if driving into Darwin, seconds will be missed as the receiver switches from DRM to FM. This can be overcome by delaying the FM signal in the studio for this processing delay. (i) provide road conditions for flood and fire on the traffic information channel which is available in automotive receivers. Both DAB+ and DRM standards include Transport Protocol Expert Group (TPEG) standard for the transmission of traffic information, which is usually only decoded by automotive receivers and can be used by GPS systems as well to re-route the drive. This would be very good for flooded roads and those closed due to bushfire. It also can show the location of fuel supplies. Line 17: See line 10

Line 18, 19: “radio transmission service for Papua New Guinea and parts of the Pacific”, change to all of the International Telecommunications Union Region 3 countries. The International Telecommunications Union is part of the United Nations. http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/definitions/regions.aspx lists; Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Dem.People’s Rep. of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

High frequency, high power radio signal cover areas not countries. The ITU plans radio coverage in 3 regions worldwide for this reason. Radio Australia’s website has subsites of French for the French Pacific Islands, Myanmar and Cambodian which currently have no high frequency broadcasts. The Australia Plus which is also an ABC product also covers Indonesia. These countries are the small fragment of what Radio Australia used to cover with its 7 transmitters in Shepparton Victoria. It used to cover all of Asia from Darwin and in the 1970s even Africa from Perth. Remember that the electricity consumption of these transmitters is considerable when in the old AM mode but when using Digital Radio Mondiale it will drop more to more than half. The Radio Australia sound signal piggy backs on the Australia Plus TV signal which has the coverage area below

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

The ABC claims that it wants other countries to retransmit Radio Australia on FM. To receive the satellite signal it must be above the horizon. The satellite cannot be seen outside the 0° line on the map. As a result Myanmar for which Radio Australia produces programs cannot be received via satellite. The only way you can listen is via the internet which can be easily censored by the Government where the signals enter their telecommunications system. High frequency broadcasting from Australia cannot be stopped by a local government. This also applies to other countries where the large C band satellite dish cannot be concealed.

Radio Australia has other competitors transmitting on high frequency around our region including the countries around the Indian and Pacific Ocean. All current high frequency broadcasters are listed in http://www.hfcc.org/data/a17/index.phtml shows a current list of all high frequency broadcasts

There is extensive high frequency broadcasting in the Indian Ocean area for example; • Bangladesh2 • All India Radio has a new extensive high powered DRM transmitter network which includes high frequency broadcasting and is even broadcasting to Australia3 • Pakistan4 has high frequency broadcast and even has DRM+ broadcasts • Indonesia which is now committed to DRM • BBC World Service transmits from Singapore and Thailand. • National broadcasters of Abu Dhabi, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Yemen

Around the Pacific Ocean there is; • Radio New Zealand International transmits to most of the South Pacific using DRM. • China, Japan, Palau, Philippines, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

In Asia and Oceania there is many religious broadcasts including Reach Beyond Australia (HCJB) transmitting from Kununurra, Western Australia and KTWR Guam. Line 21: “Uses at least 3 transmitters”, change it to “DRM transmitters carrying either; (i) the target country’s language and English language speech programs or stereo programs containing music, as well as; (ii) Images and multilingual text from their website (iii) along with the Multi-lingual Emergency Warning System (iv) Alternate frequency table. to cover all of ITU region 3. This will restore Radio Australia to the coverage it had when it was operating Cox Peninsula (near Darwin and Shepparton), as we are an Asian-Pacific nation.

2 http://www.betar.gov.bd/site/page/534ad80f-0c41-48ee-9c7b-c12d55894468/Shortwave 3 http://allindiaradio.gov.in/Profile/Radio%20Network/Pages/default.aspx 4 http://www.radio.gov.pk/external-service

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

The transmitter configuration to achieve this should be decided by the ABC, its transmitter contractor in consultation with the Space Weather Service and the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The Radio Australia studios should produce the dual language with images and text with emergency warning system data and alternate frequency data and encode and multiplexed signal ready for transmission and then feed it digitally through a telecom to the transmitter site.

The ABC will need to get the Emergency warnings automatically from the Bureau of Meteorology, Tsunami warning centre, Geoscience Australia and all of the states’ Emergency Services. This should include multilingual warning text messages, audible warnings and maps of the affected areas.

Line 22: “broadcasts the Corporation’s international service”, change to “Radio Australia consisting of sound, text and still images.” The ABC has not only Radio Australia, but also Australia Plus for netcasting (streaming) and for television. The international service is a good generic name, but the ABC should use a single name to maintain its identity overseas.

Line 24: “broadcast”, change to “broadcast using High Frequency DRM, satellite broadcasting and netcasting” This paragraph is to ensure that the transmitted programs are appropriate to the audiences to which they are aimed. Currently there is very few of them. There is considerable repetition which will become less necessary with DRM, as it is cheap to record programs on a thumb drive plugged into a receiver which can automatically record a named program from a program guide. Just like TV.

Additional paragraphs: (3) (a) The ABC must initiate an upgrade to the Australian Standard 4943-2009 Digital radio—Terrestrial broadcasting 5 to include Part 2 DRM30 and DRM+. Part 1 should be upgraded to make receiver Profile 2 the minimum standard so that Journaline and slide show can be seen on a screen. Only DAB+ channels 5A – 13F is required. Part 2 All optional sections of DRM receiver requirements and receivers must be able to tune from 525 kHz – 26.1MHz and 47 - 68 MHz. The receiver must know where it is either from GPS receiver and/or manual input so that irrelevant emergency warnings can be ignored by the receiver. In both parts The emergency warning system and in automotive receivers TPEG should also be active so that vehicles can be redirected through the GPS function.

5 https://www.saiglobal.com/PDFTemp/Previews/OSH/AS/AS4000/4900/4943.1-2009.pdf

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

The receiver must use Alternate Frequency System to select the best signal from that broadcaster that is available at the time. All signal switching must have no program gaps or duplication at the point of switching. The current standard must be compulsory on Australian manufacturers of receivers and transceivers and on importers through the Customs Act. Please note: There is a huge similarity between DAB+ and DRM receivers the main difference is in the frequency range of the tuning and the signal bandwidth. Now that Software Designed Receivers are the new type of radio the differences are easy to implement. With the exception of parts of domestic North America which used HDradio and a tiny number of long wave broadcasts in Europe/Africa which are not using DRM. To make Emergency Warning System in bushfires, cyclones and floods to be effective most listeners will need a DAB+/DRM digital radio. The ABC needs to negotiate with the Attorney General’s Department and the Departments of Emergency Services in the States and the Department of Communications to make Australian Standard 4943 compulsory for receiver imports including those in vehicles and boats. (Automotive industry has compulsory Australian Standards already through legislation.) Please note; that the use of radio frees the mobile system from overload from those finding out the latest and allows those who need help to call. The radio will not drain the mobile battery and does not suffer from the local mobile tower failure due to fire or power line failure. (b) The ABC must regularly notify the Australian radio manufacturers6 and the importers of radios, vehicles and vessels of their plans for the rollout of digital radio for domestic transmission and for Radio Australia and that all broadcasts will use all the functions specified in AS4943. Conversion to digital radio requires digital signals to be available to all listeners regardless of their location and for listeners to buy new receivers particularly in cars. (c) The ABC shop https://shop.abc.net.au/t/formats/electronics must stock handheld and portable radios which comply with the latest version of AS4943 as well as an external high frequency aerial kit. They must also supply every Embassy, High Commission and Consulate one of these receivers in ITU region 3. For those most distant from Australia, they may also need to supply aerials as well. Radio Australia is to provide

6 http://www.barrettcommunications.com.au/publications/Barrett_Commercial_Catal ogue.pdf https://www.codanradio.com/product/envoy/# https://www.gme.net.au/gme-au https://www.winradio.com/home/drm.htm

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

promotional material for the Department of Foreign Affairs to encourage sales of the radios specified above. The ABC shop website should show pictures of the available radios pointing out the ability to show text and pictures, selection of broadcaster by name, stereo sound, dual language sound overseas and the emergency warning facility. The Foreign Affairs Department through their network above needs to liaise with regional governments to tell them of the Emergency Warning system available and to place local advertising promoting Radio Australia DRM digital radio along with the mail order service of the ABC shop. So for those in the outback and overseas they should also be able to mail order DRM/DAB+ receivers (including table and handheld styles). It is important to get the maximum number of listeners to make HF broadcasting a success.

(d) For all high frequency transmission, the transmission frequency selection should selected with the monthly advice of the Space Weather Services section of Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the High Frequency Coordinating Committee and the ABC’s transmission contractor. The purpose of this paragraph is to ensure that the transmission frequency used will give the most reliable reception in the target area. (e) The ABC will negotiate with the HFCC for DRM channel bandwidth of 20 kHz ABC and Radio Australia. The 20 kHz signal bandwidth for Australia is to improve the reliability, sound quality of music, multiple language speech, whilst still transmitting slideshows, Journaline etc. For Radio Australia international agreement is required to use double the number of channels for a 20 kHz signal. (f) In concert with the Space Weather Service and HF propagation software prior to each season, determine the coverage area of all high frequency transmissions and publish them on the ABC Reception coverage estimator for domestic and on http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/waystolisten The purpose of this paragraph is to inform the ABC of where their potential audiences are because currently they have no idea. The publishing of the maps will then inform potential listeners if they can receive their signal on a small portable radio, vehicle/vessel radio with an automotive antenna which is at least 1m long when extended or whether they should install an external antenna. (g) The ABC reception and Radio Australia websites mentioned above should also contain a link to www.drm.org and the latest Australian Standard 4943 for more information on DRM radio. The Digital Radio Mondiale consortium is a non-profit organisation who has standardised the technical aspects of DRM digital radio and its website shows the available radios. The ABC being a government company cannot advertise individual manufacturers.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

The link to SAI Global which is the publish company for Australian Standards Association7 will enable potential listeners to ensure that the radio will work anywhere in Australia or for listening to Radio Australia. (h) The ABC/Radio Australia is to connect the Emergency Warning System of their DRM and DAB+ digital radio systems to produce automated warnings. The connection will be to Bureau of Meteorology’s Tsunami/Cyclone warning network, Geoscience Australia for seismic activity and all the State Emergency services for bushfire, cyclone and flood warnings. This system has to be automated because nearly all of the ABC Local Radio network is unattended particularly at weekends. The Emergency Warnings which contain the GPS coordinates of the emergency means that the messages can be ignored by receivers outside the affected area. The ABC will decode the GPS coordinates so as to switch the emergency warning system on in the appropriate state’s local radio transmitter network, remote area local radio transmitters or Radio Australia transmitters. In addition emergency warnings must also replace the sound programming from the affected local radio/RA streaming site, and VAST radio footprint. When the Emergency Warning System is activated the following message should be displayed at the bottom of the TV screen. “There is an Emergency Warning on ABC radio” of that state’s TV, and at regular intervals during the emergency. This also applies to Australia Plus TV except the message should say “There is an emergency warning for *** country on Radio Australia.

Paying for the ABC/Radio Australia conversion to Digital Radio • Simulcasting increases costs The ABC and SBS have been simulcasting all of their AM and FM broadcasts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth for nearly 8 years on DAB+. This enables 15 high powered AM transmitters and 15 powerful FM transmitters to be switched off. The ABC/SBS should install repeaters on all TV translator sites with the exception of those black spots which already have repeaters. As soon as that is complete the ABC/SBS should progressively switch off AM/FM transmitters in those cities starting with those with the smallest number of listeners (around 20,000 for NewsRadio). In the ABC’s case that is NewsRadio, Radio National, ABC Classic FM, JJJ and lastly Local Radio. This will reduce costs much more that switching off Radio Australia’s and ABC NT’s HF transmitters. • Convert 42 mostly unused high powered backup transmitters to DRM/AM switchable Start DRM transmission in country areas of NewsRadio and Radio National using one backup transmitter at each site. These DRM transmitters can form a single frequency network within a state. This will then free up a transmitter and its channel to convert that site’s Local Radio to DRM. Now one of the transmitters can be switched off. This

7 https://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/Details.aspx?ProductID=1094294

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983 will substantially reduce costs for electricity as well as maintenance and the sound quality will increase. The ABC should then create the digital signal at the local studio and feed the digital signal to the transmitter. The digital signal should contain stereo sound, text and images from the region’s website along with emergency warning system data and the Alternate Frequency Table. Unfortunately outside of the capital cities in the Eastern states there is no back up of any of the ABC’s high power FM local radio stations. DRM+ in the 47 – 68 MHz band which will give a larger coverage area than DAB+ and FM in these areas. DRM+ transmitters could easily carry Local Radio, Radio National and NewsRadio on a single transmitter. A second transmitter could carry JJJ and ABC Classics. This is still a reduction of the number of transmitters which need to be powered and maintained. The ABC should then decide when to stop the expensive simulcasts of all their remaining programs. Norway is progressively switching off all FM and AM transmitters and will have only DAB+ transmissions by the end of this year. Other European countries are approaching their targets for the commencement of analog radio shut down. India now has all of its large high powered DRM network running. Their next step is to sell radios and then they will switch all of AIR’s transmitters from simulcast to DRM mode and then switch on the stereo. The ABC should also be reminded that it is considerably cheaper to transmit signals than stream programs to all listeners, particularly when listeners have to pay to listen on mobile phones. The average listener is paying $18 per month for the privilege to their telco if they listen using their app on their smartphone. Lastly the ABC should stop the incessant promotion of their streaming particularly in metro areas. Their costs rise exponentially as the number of simultaneous listeners increases. Instead they should promote the ABC shops selling digital radios from which they can make a small profit and it does not increase their distribution costs.

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

Sound files which are really worth a listen Note: The greatest distance from the Centre of Australia on land is 2044 km. Excellent Sound quality over huge distances The pair of examples below are in stereo sound, so listen on either headphones or wide spaced speakers. KTWR from Guam to Kobe Japan 2570 km https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/1305251237-kobe15570ktwtest-1 KTWR from Guam to Ulaanbaatar Mongolia 5200 km https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/1305251239-ulaa15570ktwtest-2

The sound quality in the above examples is better than any other interviews I have heard anywhere including local FM and AM. They had the interviewer and interviewee in different locations on the sound stage in front of the listener. The usual problems of AM broadcasting below are absent; • cracking sound of lightning, the noise caused by switch mode power supplies used in all new electronic equipment including LED lighting • the fading and varying level of distortion caused by multiple reflections from the ionosphere of High Frequency broadcasting medium frequency bands. • the interference from other broadcasters which can be heard in the background. These problems are not heard if you are within the city where the transmitter is located. There is no lack of high pitched sounds which is usual in AM broadcasting.

A description of what DRM is BBC World Service content in DRM short wave from Singapore to Bali on 11995 kHz Path length 1700 km https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/drm-for-indonesia-29-09-2016 KTWR Guam to Brisbane KTWR Guam to Brisbane 4630 km, but with a microphone placed near the radio speakers. https://youtu.be/GxlQB7mWtW4 Digital Receivers Broadcaster BBC describes DRM and semiconductor manufacturer NXP receiver chip. Global multi-standard digital radio solution on BBC World Business Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS39utI1-lc

A. Hughes submission to Amendments to the ABC Act 1983

Since this video was made NXP has now released a single chip DAB+/DRM receiver.

Emergency Warning System interview is in the link below https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/ict-prog-for-drm-website Comparison of medium frequency AM and DRM which partly applies to high frequency AM. Radio Pulpit to Botswana comparison of AM to DRM at 400 km https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/radio-pulpit-drm-trial-from-johannesburg- botswana-recording https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/sound-rec-1440-20150810-191337-000

Comparison of high frequency AM (Short Wave) and DRM on the same frequency band. http://www.drm.org/listen-compare/ There are no examples of transmission paths in tropical regions (from 130 km North of Alice Springs to the NT coast). A comparison could have been created if the ABC had tried DRM broadcasting from their current Tennant Creek transmitter which has been capable of this for more than 5 years. xHE-AAC compression Demonstration In the last half of the following link shows how good the sound is with a tiny data allocation which leaves more opportunity to correct for poor transmission conditions, pictures and text. http://www.drm.org/drm-xhe-aac-demo/

Indian Radio Digitalisation Mr Pal interview AIR, March 2013 https://soundcloud.com/digital-radio-mondiale/mr-pal-interview-air-march

Alan Hughes

Ms Christine McDonald Secretary Senate Standing Committee on Environment & Communications Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 By email: [email protected]

Dear Ms McDonald

RE: All Australians must have access to all its programs and its role as “The Emergency Broadcaster”.

Amendments to the ABC Act: ABC services must be available to All Australians 1. Keeping up to date with Modern Broadcasting Technology  One board member must have Electronic Engineering Qualifications  For the last 45 years the ABC board has never had any members with any Technical qualifications let alone one with Broadcast Engineering qualifications.  They have always subcontracted its transmission network to an external provider which means that the ABC Board and staff have little knowledge of transmission networks.  The board and management should consult regularly with their Transmission subcontractor to provide the board and the Annual Report on the following;  The percentage cost of transmitting each network (including overseas television and radio services), the amount of Carbon Dioxide being produced for each of the transmitter networks.  Accurate coverage areas maps for all their transmission networks using the digital map of Australia which includes altitude and RF propagation characteristic equations for the transmission frequency used. Eg for TV https://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au/

 The capabilities of new broadcasting technologies and their feasibility to add to the networks such as DRM for radio and DVB-T2 for TV. A single DVB-T2 transmitter can transmit to TVs and mobile phones simultaneously without the costs imposed by the telco.  The ABC determine the population serviced by each studio centre, transmitter or satellite transponder using the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data and include itinerant populations such as tourists, fly/drive-in out workers.  Optus should also be required to report on the number of VAST satellite encryption keys in operation to give a more accurate number of actual satellite users, even if they may be watching commercial TV.

 The ABC should determine the cost of streaming of radio & TV both currently as well as when all Australians simultaneously view/listen to the same program simultaneously. The costing should include the cost to the ABC, including MediaHub and any telco charges. It should also include any Carbon Dioxide produced by the Electricity supply and include cooling. They should survey and publish the average cost to the listener/viewer charged by the telco using the data rate capable of providing the same sound and image quality as broadcast with no buffering (gaps, frozen images or jerky motion). The results should be published on the ABC website and in the annual report.  Keep up to date by joining the associations and using them conduct seminars on new broadcasting technologies the current associations are  Digital Radio Mondiale www.drm.org for digital radio covering large and small areas  WorldDAB www.worlddab.org for broadcasting to high population densities  Digital Video Broadcasting www.dvb.org Digital TV of the type we use. The board should address all new developments from these organisations at least annually.

 The ABC should drastically reduce their transmission costs by; Stopping the simulcast of NewsRadio, Radio National, ABC Classics, JJJ and Local Radio in the 5 mainland State capitals. This will enable them to switch of 34 high powered transmitters and make vacant a large area of very prime land which is currently used for AM transmitters. http://www.gfk.com/en- au/insights/report/radio-audience-measurement-survey-summary-reports/ shows the number of listeners including digital listeners there are currently. In June 2016 Commercial Radio Australia claims 3.5 million listeners which includes over half a million cars. This would easily pay for any extra DAB+ repeaters required in the 5 capital cities and re-instate HF transmissions to inland Australia and Radio Australia which should be improved by using DRM transmission. These transmissions use less electrical power than the old AM ones.

The switchoff of NewsRadio on AM will affect less than 20,000 people sounds like the shortwave switchoff, except the city slickers can still listen to their program but leaving remote listeners with no radio at all.

Background to part 1 a. They have never provided accurate coverage area maps for radio, such as those on https://myswitch.digitalready.gov.au/ . In fact with the recent closure of the High Frequency (Short Wave) services the ABC has no maps of coverage for either the NT transmitters or those for Radio Australia. The AM coverage area maps do not include the reduction in coverage area caused by a huge increase in electronic interference and the shrinkage of the length of car radio antennas. b. In the 1990s the ABC rejected an offer to go FM in the state capital cities, when commercial licences were being sold for millions each. As a result they are now trying to convince listeners to pay to listen to their radio because many mobile phones contain FM radios but none have AM reception. c. The ABC has been extensively promoting listening from mobile phone, but has never overlayed an accurate map of their coverage areas with that of the mobile phone companies, to show where they cannot be heard, on the phone, and/or on the radio. d. ABC DAB+ digital radio started in Aug 2009 so it is not unreasonable to start the switch off of low use AM stations e. The Commonwealth Government is subsidising mobile phone towers which have a coverage radius of around 10 km which is about the coverage area of an economically justifiable low power FM transmitter. What about the huge areas in between? Even in regional areas, the terrain blocks signals. f. Where is the cost comparison between providing the ability to broadcast to all Australians in our country no matter where they live and the cost of providing simultaneous internet streaming to all those people. The cost of providing streaming rises exponentially as the number of simultaneous users’ increases.

1. The ABC is the poorest innovator 1. They were the last major TV network to transmit in High Definition TV and even now only a few programs. 2. The Broadcast Australia for the ABC has 6 high powered radio transmitters which are Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) capable transmitters, why have the not even trialled this method of superior transmission which is capable of covering all of Australia using one transmitter? SBS has had a low powered trial of DRM. 3. Broadcast Australia has 68 backup transmitters which are idle incase of a fault. Why doesn’t the ABC get Broadcast Australia to upgrade them to DRM. This would allow them to transmit Radio National and Newsradio which are essentially voice programming on a single transmitter. When enough DRM receivers have been sold, then they could convert the local radio transmitter on each site.

2. ABC Act Amendment: Emergency Broadcaster The ABC must provide to all Australians anywhere on land or within Australian territorial waters (370 km from land) geographically appropriate emergency warnings, which contain audible messages, text messages and maps provided using either DRM or DAB+ radio within minutes of them being issued.

The ABC promotes itself as the emergency broadcaster  How can it do this in most of inland and particularly Northern Australia which has no radio reception at all now that the HF transmitters in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs have been closed?  The ABC must accept that the both mobile and satellite phone systems are an inefficient method of contacting large numbers of people, and such actions prevent emergency calls from victims to the authorities. They also need to accept that a mobile phone battery discharges much more quickly than a radio because it must transmit that it is on to the tower every 15 minutes, so the telco knows which tower to use to ring it.  The ABC must accept that during heavy rain, VAST, Skymaster satellite internet and Satellite phones don’t work when you need them most because the rain drops absorb the signal. HF signals are unaffected by rain.  Transmitters in cyclone areas are likely to be blown down, loose power, be struck by lightning and in some cases flooded. This is unlikely from Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine’s HF transmitters.  Grant Broadcasters in Darwin has tested automated (from the Emergency Services) http://www.acma.gov.au/~/media/Broadcast%20Carriage%20Policy/Report/pdf/ ACMA%20report%20on%20Darwin%20July%202012%20v10%20%20publishable%2 0pdf.pdf emergency messaging and the display of maps during their DAB+ digital radio trial. https://youtu.be/hFCD7TAxKec  The ABC’s Tennant Creek HF transmitter is DRM capable and could also transmit emergency messaging including maps, why hasn’t the ABC trialled it?  Why isn’t the ABC using the Emergency Warning System on their existing DAB+ digital radio transmitters in the 5 mainland state capital cities? The ability to transmit text and slideshow can be used to show the announcer, album covers, news stories along with the text of news bulletins whilst they are being read for those with poor hearing.  Why doesn’t the ABC have a van with a low powered DAB+, DRM+ or FM transmitter, powered from a trailer available at most studio centres? It could provide local coverage in floods and areas of fires as demonstrated in Victoria, where all areas East of Mt Tassie to the NSW boarder lost program? The rest of the time these vans could be equipped to do live newsgathering for radio/TV. Most mobile phone towers are on the tops of hills and are supplied by electricity. Hot air from fires spreads the fire to the tops of hills causing all mobile phones using that tower to stop working. The van could be put in the centre of a local population.

Yours sincerely Alan Hughes

Foreign Affairs White Paper Questions The white paper asks a number of questions to which there is a common answer. Question 02 AUSTRALIA HAS DIVERSE INTERESTS THAT SPAN THE GLOBE

 Which global trends, such as developments in technology o Australia should be using new digital radio technology to communicate with all countries where we have trade and/or cultural alliances, including those with hostile Governments.  How should Australia respond? o Start transmitting to the above countries using high power Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)1 from the centre of Australia or Shepparton Victoria. Each transmitter should be transmitting either high quality stereo sound or English and another language simultaneously. Adding multilingual text and pictures such as is seen on the ABC News website. o Australia is part of the United Nations’ tsunami detection and warning network. Since Radio Australia switched off their High Frequency (Short Wave) transmitters on 31st January 2017, there is no way Australia can warn those in boats and all but the most populous islands of any tsunamis. When there is another tsunami in a populated region of the Pacific or Asia, Australia will be seen as a contributing cause of mass death. Question 03 AUSTRALIA IS AN INFLUENTIAL PLAYER IN REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS.

 How can we maximise our influence? o By broadcasting popular, credible, and informative programs with the people of the countries over which we want influence. o The use of high powered, high frequency DRM has the advantage that it is transmitted from Australia and cannot be tampered with. It sounds much better than the old Short Wave and can show a slideshow and multilingual text. o We will have a lot of influence in the event of a tsunami because they will be grateful to have had early warning and Radio Australia correspondents could embellish the warnings with specific local instructions from the local Emergency Services. o Remember also that these broadcasts are receivable in Australia for both relatives of those affected by a disaster. Question 04 AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BE AMBITIOUS IN GRASPING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

 What steps should be taken to maximise our trade and investment and expand commercial opportunities for Australian business? o DRM radio programs can portray Australia’s innovation reliability and reputation to those outside of our shores.

1 www.drm.org

Question 05 AUSTRALIA CONFRONTS A RANGE OF STRATEGIC, SECURITY AND TRANSNATIONAL CHALLENGES.

 support a more prosperous, peaceful and stable region? o Broadcasting a credible news service to troubled countries in our region will promote peace, stability and the will to make deals with a stable country which is less likely to rip-off its customers. Question 06 AUSTRALIA USES A RANGE OF ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES TO PURSUE OUR INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS.

 What assets will we need to advance our foreign policy interests in future years? o Radio Australia needs to restore the High Frequency broadcasting capability using the new Digital Radio Mondiale for not only the Pacific, but also all of Asia and Eastern Africa. These transmissions have been closed in Darwin (because of Cyclone Tracy) and in Perth for Africa. o Radio Australia’s program schedule has very little content from the target countries which would increase the relevance to listeners so that they are more likely to listen to Australian programs. o Reduce the repetition of programs in a target area. New DRM radios can record programs on a thumb drive so that programs can be time shifted to a time the listener wishes.

Current Radio Australia (International arm of Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Broadcasts Satellite Broadcasting Australia Plus transmits a television program from an amalgam of ABC and commercial programs and are supported by commercial sponsors. It also carries a pair of audio channels one for so that they can transmit English and another language. To receive the RA radio programs, you have to also receive the Australia Plus TV signal as well using the large antenna shown below. Whether a listener installs their own dish, or it is used to feed a low powered FM re-transmitter, both installations require reliable electricity supply and sufficient mechanical strength to not blow away. It is not possible to use this dish on a vehicle, boat and is difficult to install on remote islands or isolated village. The next page shows the coverage area of the satellite that Radio Australia uses. Note there is no coverage in central Asia including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, East Timor, India, Pakistan, Arab countries and Eastern Africa. Radio Australia expects other countries to buy a DVB-S2 satellite receiving system including the dish shown and FM transmitter to retransmit its program. What is in it for the broadcaster unless they insert local advertising and/or their own content. Large areas of the Pacific are a long way

2 from undersea cables carrying the internet. They have to use expensive satellite broadband. It is also susceptible to censorship. The satellite reception can also be absorbed by heavy rain during monsoon and cyclones along with the possibility of the satellite dish damage, FM transmitter antenna tower and the failure of electricity supply makes this method of distribution unreliable during emergencies. FM transmitters have a coverage range from 10 – 100 km depending on the power and the height of the transmitting and receiving antennas above surrounding terrain or ocean.

Streaming Radio Australia recommends streaming. The speed and cost will depend on whether the country is on the fibre optic intercountry networks. Most isolated islands are not where near these networks,

3 so have to use satellite broadband which is slow, limited capability for multiple users and expensive. Some small countries then connect the satellite “earth station” to a Wifi network, but this network will still be limited by the satellite capabilities. Streaming is subject to censorship by foreign Governments.

High Frequency (Short Wave) Broadcasting Radio Australia’s HF broadcasting was switched off on 31st January 2017. The following countries continue to use High frequency broadcasting to reach audiences isolated by terrain or distance or to get influence in other countries. Eg India in East Africa. Beyond Reach Australia, Kununurra WA National Broadcasting Corp of Papua New Religious broadcaster to Asia Guinea Radio Bangladesh Betar Philippines Broadcast Service China Radio International KBS World Radio All India Radio1 Radio Taiwan International Radio Republic Indonesia1 Radio Thailand NHK Japan BBC World Service Singapore Voice of Malaysia BBC World Service Thailand1 Radio New Zealand International2 Radio Vanuatu Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Voice of Vietnam Most broadcasters transmit in multiple languages to their neighbours and internationally. Some transmit to their own country. Bold indicates transmission in Digital Radio Mondiale for high quality sound, text and slideshow pictures. Note: Radio Republic Indonesia has signed letter of intent to roll out DRM broadcasting. Radio Australia Shutdown its high frequency (Short Wave) broadcasts to the Pacific on 31st January 2017. It previously shutdown its HF broadcasts to Asia and PNG. New and Old High Frequency (Short wave) radio

 Old: Amplitude Modulation (AM) was invented in 1901 and is used in Short Wave broadcasting.  New: Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Standardised 2001, latest update 2014. India has just completed the installation of 37 DRM transmitters for internal coverage and 4 for their International service. They are now moving to start on the marketing of receivers. The Advantages of High Frequency radio  From one high powered transmitter you can cover a whole hemisphere, where the transmitter can be located away from harm.  In an emergency the radio will work despite; o electricity supply failure o failures in the mobile phone system o Overloaded mobile phone system caused by people wanting to notify of their circumstances and to listen to warnings and instructions.

2 Digital Radio Mondiale transmissions www.DRM.org

o Flat mobile phone battery. (All mobile phones must transmit their existence every 15 min so that the network knows which tower to use to ring the phone). o Satellite phones don’t work in heavy rain o Failure of local FM radio transmitter o Failure of local satellite receiver DRM30 vs AM

 DRM can produce high quality stereo sound whereas AM often fades and becomes distorted and makes a loud cracking sound when lightning occurs near the receiver.  DRM radios are tuned by selecting the name of a broadcaster. AM radios require the user to remember the frequency which can be up to 5 digit number. The frequency used will change between daytime and nightime and also changes seasonally.  DRM has an Emergency Warning System which wakes a radio from standby, tunes the transmitter carrying the warnings, you can then hear the warnings, read them in multiple languages and view a map of the affected areas.  DRM can be used to transmit the pictures and text of the Radio Australia website.  Space Weather Services section of the Bureau of Meteorology can predict the best frequencies to transmit on. The Alternate Frequency Table function in DRM radios allows you to transmit what frequencies you are using including new frequencies. This allows for automatic receiver frequency switching under the control of the broadcaster. This enables you to optimise reception for the space weather conditions.

High Frequency Broadcasting for Radio Australia

High quality sound, slide show including maps, text messages and Journaline Automatic receiver wake up and channel selection in the event of an emergency transmission Radio Australia Anywhere in the large The ABC is not using this system where as Radio Installed 5 years ago coverage areas such as the New Zealand International have been transmitting South Pacific DRM to the Pacific Ocean for 10 years!

In 2013 the Bureau of Meteorology trialled a low powered HF DRM to transmit earthquake and tsunami warnings. Instead, one of the new transmitters in Shepparton is already capable DRM should have been used so that normal Radio Australia programming could be added. This is an example ABC’s lack of commitment to innovation.

What other more innovative broadcasters than Radio Australia are doing

Why don’t you copy the New Zealand International’s transmission on Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) on High frequency? It eliminates satellite hiring costs and retains a reliable signal during heavy rain to feed local FM stations. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/323555/rnzi-remains-essential- voice-of-the-pacific

Radio Republic Indonesia is interested in HF DRM to cover its 900 populated islands and their surrounding waters. The ABC plan appears to stop at a pair of FM transmitters on Fiji which is a microcosm of the Pacific.

India has a new extensive network of high power DRM transmitters and Pakistan is now commencing DRM+ transmissions in Islamabad.

This will leave the rest of the Pacific to Radio New Zealand International. RNZI is commonly heard in Western USA on DRM.

Where was Radio Australia’s coverage area map? I have never seen one, so how did they know which countries could hear them?

Receivers

DRM Receiver with display3 Hyundai I10 India DRM

3 http://www.gospell.com/china-gr_216_new_generation_drm_receiver_am_and_fm_stereo_reception- 8536660.html

Conclusion

 Radio Australia/Australia Plus must have editorial freedom to become a credible, authoritative broadcaster.  Transmit all programs in English with a second language through each DRM transmitter. This will halve the number of DRM transmitters and more than halve the electricity consumption.  Minimise the amount of repeated programs as all DRM receivers can record the programs to a memory card.  Finance and insist on DRM overage to individual listeners using a portable or vehicle/marine radio to countries which DFAT and/or Radio Australia deemed to be in Australian interest.  Fullfil its role in the United Nations’ Tsunami network including broadcasting on High Frequency high power warnings from Australia, using the DRM Emergency Warning System of dual language speech and text along with graphics and maps.  Australia must publicise in target countries the existence of these DRM broadcasts commencing in the Pacific Islands including NZ, India and Indonesia.  There should be at least one Radio Australia/ABC reporter in every country we have an embassy and/or consulate in.  The ABC needs to include in the Annual report separately the cost of providing Radio Australia and Australia Plus Television. This is to include production costs, distribution costs including satellite hire and internet costs as well as transmission costs  Detail in the ABC report the percentage of programming which is repeated and the percentage of programming which has been retransmitted from the ABC’s other Radio and TV networks.  DFAT must also be able to determine the popularity (ie engage a ratings survey company to commission ratings) of the broadcasts in the target countries and the results are to be published in the ABC Annual Report.  DFAT and the ABC must include in the ABC ‘s Annual Report an analysis of the use of the Emergency Warning System including its successes and failures along with recommendations for the future.  DFAT is to report the location of any retransmission facilities used for Radio Australia and any incidents of failure to retransmit RA programs for periods of more than one hour. This is to include censorship along with signal failures.  Encourage the Australian manufacturers & exporters of HF two way radios (Barratt and Codan) to include DRM and DAB+ reception in all their products.  http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/waystolisten says it wants to extend a network of FM retransmitters but makes no mention of any FM radio retransmission sites anywhere.

Finally Radio Australia used to be an influential broadcaster which has suffered a thousand cuts not only in the coverage areas but also in program makers. To increase Australia’s influence

http://www.gospell.com/news/gospell_announces_the_imminent_release_of_gr_216_drm_am_fm_digital_r adio-16863.html

http://titusradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Titus_quad-fold-2.pdf (Predicted to be <$Au140)

Radio Australia needs to be given modern DRM transmission, the means to promote receiver purchase and attractive, credible programs which listeners want to hear.

A Hughes 20170224