Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy
minister@dbcde.gov.au

[TODAY’S DATE]
Dear Minister,
I would like to draw your attention to an issue that I believe is crucial to the successful adoption of digital television in this country.
I believe it essential that you direct the ACMA, or other appropriate law / regulatory bodies, to mandate that the free-to-air TV networks in this country provide TV guide information – specifically what’s on and when – in a free and unencumbered form. Assured access to this information is necessary to attract investment in value-added services and technologies crucial to driving the widespread acceptance and adoption of digital television into the future.
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 of nonsense does not exist in other countries around the world, and must not be allowed to take root here.
The current voluntary codes of practice are simply not working, and the Australian public is 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.  Worse still, the current monopoly position broadcasters have on the supply of program guide information could be misused to stifle competition in the delivery of guide services and digital TV hardware. Responses so far from the Australian Media and Communication Authority (ACMA) have not been adequate.
Historically guide information has been freely provided to third party aggregators who take the basic schedule and ‘value-add’ by providing more information about the shows being broadcast, and other items of interest.  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, Media Centre software from Microsoft – 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.
I ask that you, as the Minister responsible, resolve this situation by ensuring access to guide information is freely available to all who need it.  This should be a minimum requirement in this digital age. I look forward to hearing 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]