Preliminary Proposals
Four Priority Programmes
28. The Government proposes to use the 100-108 MHz band to provide new and enhanced non-commercial broadcast programmes. The four programmes which the Government proposes to give priority to are:
- National Radio - to enable it to be broadcast on FM;
- Concert FM - to enable it to migrate to the upper FM band;
- Maori radio - to enable the establishment of a national programme for the promotion of Maori language and culture;
- Pacific Island radio - for the establishment of a national programme to enable Pacific peoples' cultures and languages to be heard.
29. It should be noted that at this stage the Government is proposing only to reserve or "set aside" spectrum for the above four programmes. Further work and public consultation would be required to develop detailed and comprehensive proposals for each of the programmes before any of the reserved spectrum would be allocated in the form of a radio licence. In particular, the Government would need to be satisfied that the appropriate governance and funding arrangements were in place for the efficient, effective and accountable delivery of the above programmes.
| Key Questions: |
| 1.1 | Do you agree that the 100-108 MHz band should be used to provide additional non-commercial broadcast services? Do you think any provision should be made for commercial broadcasting? |
| 1.2 | Do you agree that priority should be given to reserving spectrum for National Radio, the transfer of Concert FM, Maori radio and Pacific Island radio? If not, what programmes do you think should be given priority? |
| 1.3 | With respect to a Maori national radio network, do you consider that reserving spectrum within the 100-108 MHz band for this purpose will further the Crown's achievement of its obligation under the Treaty of Waitangi to promote Maori language and culture? |
Coverage
30. The desired coverage level of the four priority programmes will determine the amount of 100-108 MHz spectrum that will need to be reserved for the delivery of the programmes. The coverage requirements will also determine how much 100-108 MHz spectrum will be available for other programmes in certain areas.
31. The Government is seeking feedback on the desired coverage levels for each of the four proposed programmes. The optimal coverage level may be different for each programme. For example, it may be possible to reach the majority of Pacific Island radio listeners by providing coverage in the main centres of Auckland, Hamilton, Tokoroa, Wellington, and Christchurch. On the other hand, the desired coverage level for a Maori national radio programme may include access for all rohe, which would require the use of additional repeater stations.
32. To assist in identifying the desired level of coverage for each service, it is estimated that National Radio currently covers 97% of the population and that Concert FM covers 92% of the population. A programme broadcasting in the five main centres5 would result in coverage of around 68% of the population. Finally, it can be noted that TV One has a coverage level of approximately 99%.
| Key Questions: |
| 2.1 | Do you think that the 100-108 MHz band should be used primarily to provide a greater choice of new broadcast services, or to provide a few new services with high levels of population coverage? |
| 2.2 | What level of population coverage do you think is necessary for each of the following proposed national programmes: National Radio, Concert FM, Maori radio, Pacific Island radio? |
| 2.3 | What population centres do you consider it is important for each of the four priority services to cover? For example, the five main centres, or all centres with a population greater than 10,000 |
Remaining Spectrum
33. The Government proposes to keep open at this stage the possibility of reserving more spectrum for non-commercial services (e.g. Access and Community radio) from whatever is left over in the upper FM band, after coverage requirements for the four priority programmes have been met. There are currently no plans to make any of the 100-108 MHz spectrum available for acquisition through auction.
| Key Questions: |
| 3.1 | Do you agree that any spectrum left over after the coverage requirements for the four priority services have been met should be kept open for further possible reservations for non-commercial services? |
| 3.2 | If you agree with this proposal, what non-commercial services do you think should be given priority in any future reservations? |
| 3.3 | Do you consider that commercial broadcasters should have an opportunity to access left over spectrum in the 100-108 MHz band? |
| 3.4 | Do you think that providing more spectrum for commercial broadcasting would result in a better choice of broadcasting services than currently exists? |
Spectrum Freed-Up from New Reservations
34. The reservation of 100-108 MHz spectrum for National Radio and Concert FM is likely to free-up some of the AM and lower FM band spectrum currently being used by these programmes. The Government proposes that this spectrum be auctioned for commercial use in due course. This will be subject, however, to future decisions regarding youth radio, as the establishment of a youth radio network may require the use of spectrum in the lower FM band freed-up from the movement of Concert FM.
35. As indicated above, some of the AM spectrum and lower FM band spectrum previously reserved for non-commercial broadcasting services is not currently being used. This is the case for Maori radio and Access and Community radio. In some instances, the reserved spectrum is not used because it is not considered suitable to reach the areas that potential broadcasters wish to cover.
36. Given the level of demand for radio broadcasting licences and the possibility of reservations of 100-108 MHz spectrum for Maori radio and for Access and Community radio (i.e. from spectrum left over from the four priority programmes), it may be possible to free-up some of the existing, unused reservations for alternative uses, such as commercial broadcasting.
| Key Questions: |
| 4.1 | Do you agree that spectrum freed-up as a result of new reservations for National Radio and Concert FM should be auctioned in due course? |
| 4.2 | Do you consider that some of the existing, unused reservations of spectrum (both AM and lower band FM) should be freed-up for alternative uses? If so, under what circumstances? |
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