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  RIBS TV Transmitter Rollout ProjectFollowing a Ministerial announcement on 5 April 2005 the Australian Government, through the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, made $2 million in new funding available to the Foundation to conduct a TV transmitter rollout project for remote Indigenous communities with Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (formerly BRACS now referred to as RIBS) for the retransmission of the Indigenous television service distributed via satellite by Imparja Television. Prior to the project, most remote Indigenous communities had only one transmitter available to carry Indigenous community television programming and ABC television services. The production of culturally relevant content has been steadily increasing at community level and through Imparja Television's narrowcast service based in Alice Springs. Provision of a second transmitter has allowed remote Indigenous communities to have a dedicated channel for Indigenous programming. As a part of the project's planning phase the Foundation conducted an initial survey of existing television retransmission infrastructure within remote Indigenous communities and gathered information on the expected equipment requirements necessary for provision of the Indigenous television service. While the initial purpose of the funding was to provide transmission facilities for the 80 gazetted RIBS with community television licences the survey, conducted via the Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (PAKAM, NG Media, PY Media, Warlpiri Media, CAAMA, TEABBA, and TSIMA) revealed that there are over 150 remote Indigenous communities with existing retransmission infrastructure that could benefit. Permission was obtained from the Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, to extend the scope of the project to include remote Indigenous communities with self-help television retransmission facilities. To date, 146 communities have been provided with retransmission equipment. The Foundation aims to equip as many remote Indigenous communities with ICTV retransmission equipment as possible using the funds available. The CBF has maintained close consultation with the Indigenous Remote Communications Association (IRCA) and the Australian Indigenous Communications Association (AICA) on implementation of the project. The CBF is also working closely with seven Remote Indigenous Media Organisations that support RIBS services across Australia to establish the new services. Oversight of the RIBS Televsion Transmitter Rollout Project grant's process is the responability of the CBF's RIBS TV Rollout Grants Advisory Committee (RGAC). For further information contact Heath Rickard, Grants Administrator ph: (03) 9419 8055 or email: grants@cbf.com.au
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