24 February 2005

More funding to fix regional radio blackspots

Residents of 13 communities in regional NSW and Queensland will have better commercial radio services following the approval of a fifth funding round under the Australian Government's Commercial Radio Blackspots Program.

Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said that the latest funding round would bring the total number of communities for which funding has been approved to 129.

The Australian Government allocated $5 million over three years to the program.

"Thanks to the Commercial Radio Blackspots Program these communities have the opportunity to access new or improved AM or FM commercial radio services,"
Senator Coonan said.

The funding will help commercial radio broadcasters with costs related to equipment, installation, site establishment and licence fees.

More than $3.2 million for projects in 116 blackspot communities in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Victoria has been provided in the first four rounds of the program.

A list of the 13 communities to receive funding under the fifth round of the program is attached.

Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305

Commercial Radio Blackspots Program
Funding Approvals
December 2004