Information for residents of Lake Grace about the Satellite Subsidy Scheme

Analog TV services in Lake Grace are provided from two self-help retransmission sites located in Lake Grace. The sites are operated by the Lake Grace Shire Council.

The Lake Grace self-help sites will not be upgraded to broadcast digital TV services and will be switched off on 25 June 2013, the same day that all other analog services are switched off in the Regional and Remote Western Australia switchover region.

All households in the Lake Grace area that receive their analog TV services from the self-help site who do not have adequate reception of all national and commercial digital TV services from another transmitter site are eligible for assistance under the Australian Government's Satellite Subsidy Scheme to move to the government-funded direct-to-home digital Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service.

Previously, only part of Lake Grace was eligible for assistance under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme. However, the eligibility area has been expanded and all eligible households in Lake Grace may now apply for a subsidised installation of the VAST service.

Households in the Satellite Subsidy Scheme eligible area that have adequate reception of digital TV from a terrestrial transmission site do not need to do anything.

The map below shows the area in which people are eligible to apply for assistance under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme.

To see whether you are eligible to apply for assistance under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme, go to mySwitch at the Digital Ready website at www.digitalready.gov.au and enter your address. When the map opens with your address pinpointed, click on the 'Satellite Subsidy Scheme areas' above the map. You can also call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.

Eligible people in the Lake Grace area are advised to opt-in to the Satellite Subsidy Scheme as soon as possible to ensure that their VAST installation can be arranged before switchover on 25 June 2013. To opt-in to the Satellite Subsidy Scheme, you will need to call the Digital Ready Information Line. The Satellite Subsidy Scheme will remain open across the Regional and Remote Western Australia switchover region until 25 July 2013.

What is the Satellite Subsidy Scheme?

The Satellite Subsidy Scheme assists households that rely on a self-help transmitter not being upgraded to digital who cannot receive digital TV services from another transmitter site to move to the VAST service.

The Satellite Subsidy Scheme reduces the cost to households of accessing the VAST service. Under the Scheme, households receive a high definition VAST set-top box, satellite dish and cabling, supplied and installed by a government-contracted installer for a one-off household contribution of $250.

The VAST service provides a minimum of 17 free-to-air digital TV channels from ABC, SBS and commercial broadcasters. Through the VAST service, anyone not able to receive digital television services from a local transmission site will have access to a reliable and professionally operated free-to-air satellite TV service now and into the future.   

WA Vast factsheet

Where can I find more information?      

More information is available on the Digital Ready Website at www.digitalready.gov.au or by calling the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13.