Vol. 379 No. 11
asked the Minister for Communications the reason operators of television signal deflection systems using UHF frequency spectrum are not licensed by his Department; if he will consider licensing such systems making them subject to the same revenue and copyright conditions at present applying to cable operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15.
asked the Minister for Communications the future he envisages for existing rural multichannel distribution systems which use deflector systems, under his proposal to franchise MMDS.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 15 together.
I have no plans to license UHF rebroadcasting systems. The possibility of issuing licences for rebroadcasting systems using UHF frequency spectrum was given most careful consideration. However, to license such systems would raise a number of very serious practical and policy issues from the point of view of good frequency management and the protection of licensed cable systems.
MMDS, which I propose to introduce shortly, will provide a legitimate means of access to a significantly wider choice of television viewing both terrestrial and via satellite in areas not served and unlikely to be served by cable systems.
8.
asked the Minister for Communications whether he will ensure that technical standards in relation to the grant of radio licences will take account of the difficulties involved in providing a county radio service in areas with difficult terrain and widely scattered population structures.
The difficulties involved in achieving coverage of areas of the kind referred to by the Deputy are being taken into account to the maximum extent practicable in the sound broadcasting frequency plan that has been prepared by my Department.
