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The following Information relates to Digital TV reception in the bush called VAST. Government supported “Viewer Access Satellite Television” which might be of interest to Menindee NSW, Central Darling Shire council and other outback areas. Digital television services for self-help re-transmission sites Self-help television transmission sites have been set up in areas where broad-casters have not established transmitters or where the signal from broadcaster operated Transmitters serving the area is not adequate. Self-help sites have generally been set up and are operated by local councils or community groups. Source: DTV_services_for_self_help_retransmission_sites.pdf What is a self-help re-transmission site and how many are there?*Extracts. *Approximately 600 sites will remain unconverted. *The vast majority of these 600 self-help sites retransmit television signals from satellite, being the Remote Area Broadcasting Service (RABS) currently on the Aurora satellite platform. The new satellite service will provide a vastly increased number of channels compared to RABS, and will for the first time provide access to local news. Source: http://www.digitalready.gov.au Eligibility for Satellite Subsidy Scheme - Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) A large number of analog-only self-help towers in Australia are not being converted to digital. This will affect up to 130,000 households in over 700 communities across Australia. Households that rely on these analog-only self-help towers may be eligible for the Satellite Subsidy to ease the transition to the VAST digital satellite service. Towns affected by these analog-only self-help towers are listed in the 'Timetable' http://www.digitalready.gov.au/subsidy/Timetable.aspx Source: http://www.digitalready.gov.au Will the Government be providing any services direct to households? Yes. The Australian Government will provide some services to eligible households, for example, under the Household Assistance Scheme. The Scheme has commenced in Mildura/Sunraysia TV licence area in early 2010. Potentially eligible households will be contacted by Centrelink and invited to test their eligibility. Eligible households who opt into the Scheme will be advised that a technician from a specified company will make an appointment to visit their home and install the necessary equipment free of charge. Source: DigitalReadyFAQs.pdf

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How much will it cost and will the Government provide any financial assistance to viewers? In order to access the new satellite service, households will need to install direct to home satellite reception equipment including a satellite dish and set top box. Set top boxes for the new satellite service are not yet available in the Australian market. Further information on the operation of the satellite service and the availability of set top boxes will be made available on this website. The costs of installation will vary depending on the location, the size of the satellite receiving dish and characteristics of the viewer’s home. The average cost for households in regional areas is estimated to be $650. Households that currently rely on an analog self-help site to receive television services, and which is not being upgraded to digital by the broadcasters, will be eligible for a $400 subsidy from the Australian Government to install direct-to-home satellite reception equipment. The subsidy is in recognition of the investment in analog infrastructure by local communities which, if not for digital switchover, would have continued to provide television services to those communities. The Household Assistance Scheme (HAS) provides practical in-home assistance to households where at least one resident is receiving a maximum rate Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer payment, Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) service pension or the DVA income support supplement payment. People eligible for the HAS who are reliant on the new satellite service will receive the necessary set top box required to access the new service. Those eligible for the HAS program that also own their own homes will also be receive the necessary satellite dish and external cabling.

How the Satellite Subsidy Works. VAST service will show 17 digital channels. High Definition channels: OneHD, NineHD, SevenHD, SBS HD, ABC 24 HD. Standard Definition channels: Regional Local News ABC1, Imparja Nine, SBS One, Southern Cross Seven, Ten, ABC2, ABC3, GO!, SBS TWO, 7TWO, One. For households eligible for the Satellite Subsidy, this installation charge will be substantially reduced by the subsidy amount, to less than half the total cost of installation, resulting in a household payment of around $200 to $350. Check eligibility for the satellite subsidy, by calling 1800 20 10 13 or by checking eligibility through this website http://bcoms.dbcde.gov.au/satellite-subsidy Source: http://www.digitalready.gov.au

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Videosat VAST Videosat announce you will now have access to the new Free to Air “FTA” programming in High Definition using your existing satellite dish set up. All that is required is a new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) Receiver & Smartcard. Australian Government and broadcasters Southern Cross Media and Imparja joint venture company, ensures access to free-to-air television for viewers in the Remote Central and Eastern Australia licence area. It includes those in regional and metropolitan areas who are unable to receive their local TV services terrestrially will also be able to access the new service. Self-help sites are small retransmit sites that have been set up to retransmit satellite services terrestrially in analogue format, many by councils and local community groups. All Existing Remote Area viewers who currently watch Southern Cross and Imparja via satellite will be able to convert to this new service later in the year. Southern Service will operate in Southern time Zone providing standard definition services for viewers in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania based on Sydney time. All that is required is a new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) Receiver & Smartcard. To access the VAST service, viewers will need to purchase a new satellite set top box with an access ‘smart card’, a satellite dish and cabling. Existing Aurora customers will only need to purchase a set top box at RRP of $269.00 inc GST, provided their existing satellite equipment is functioning correctly. For those of you requiring a complete satellite system with the new VAST Receiver & smartcard, Videosat can offer a bundled deal for $699.00. Videosat and Campersat have teamed with AltecUEC as the initial supplier of satellite set top boxes with product already being dlivered. Initial orders have been delivered. All new orders at this time are being taken at Videosat The Government will provide a subsidy of $400 to eligible households to convert to the new satellite service. - Paid directly to householders.-

FTA VAST Services Available: TEN, ONE, NINE, GO, SEVEN, SBS 1-2, ABC 1-3 & 24. Videosat 2/28 Salisbury Road Hornsby NSW 2077 PO Box 3190 Asquith NSW 2077 Ph (02) 9482 3100 FX (02) 9482 3999 enquiries@videosat.com.au www.videosat.com.au Source: 20752-VAST.pdf