{(The Hon) XXXX MP
Minister for XXXX}
Address
{Remove text in {}if your local MP is not a Minister}
[TODAY’S DATE]	

Dear {Minister}/XXXXX MP,

I write to you as a constituent that is passionate about Digital Television.
I would like your support to have the ACMA, or other appropriate law / regulatory body, mandate that the free-to-air TV networks in this country to provide TV guide information – specifically what’s on and when - freely and in an unencumbered form.  Currently some broadcasters are using legal technicalities to try and restrict what third parties can do with guide information, and others are actively working with specific equipment manufacturers to try and control what devices the Australian public can effectively use to watch digital TV in Australia.  This sort on nonsense does not exist in other countries around the world, and must not be allowed to take root here.
The current guidelines and voluntary codes of practice in this newly evolving area are simply not working and the Australian public are being disadvantaged.  Potentially we could end up with another “Beta vs VHS” situation in Australia, where people spend good money on equipment that will be rendered impotent by the lack of clear conditions set for FTA broadcasters.  Responses from the Australian Media and Communication Authority (ACMA) indicate that they do not fully comprehend the situation, or are being incorrectly led by FreeTV Australia.  The current voluntary codes of practice are simply not working, and the Australian public is being disadvantaged.
Historically guide information has been provided to third party aggregators who take the basic scheduling and value-add more information about the shows being broadcast.  TV Week is an iconic Australian illustration of this, and one that has been crucial to the development of analogue TV.  This sort of service is taken for granted today, and must be allowed to evolve into forms required by the new generation of digital TV devices.  Currently this is not happening.  For example Microsoft’s Media Centre software, which is a common component of Windows Vista, and distributed by the world’s largest technology company, is not able to be fully utilised in Australia due to the current restrictive practices being pursued by the TV networks.
This situation can be easily resolved by ensuring that the Australian public have freely available and unencumbered access to TV guide information in a digital form in this digital age.  I ask that you, as my representative in Government, find a way to achieve this for I believe will be everyone’s benefit.  I look forward to hearing back from you with regard to this important, but easily rectified issue affecting the smooth adoption of digital TV in this country.
Yours sincerely

[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS]