We are working to better understand free-to-air television reception issues being experienced by some households in parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast within the Federal electorate of Shortland.
As part of this initiative, free television reception assessments will be available for selected households. Information collected through these assessments will contribute to a better understanding of television reception issues in the Shortland area.
Express your interest
We are inviting eligible residential households to express their interest in receiving a free television reception assessment. If you are selected, the assessment would be carried out at your property by a technician organised by the government.
You would receive a report which outlines the technician’s findings including any identified reception issues and potential actions that may help you to improve free-to-air television reception at your property.
You’ll need to read the instructions below and make sure you express your interest by 17 November 2026.
Please note that submitting an expression of interest (EOI) does not guarantee that your household will be selected to participate in the initiative.
Unsure whether you are located within the Shortland electorate? Enter your address into the mapping tool to check whether your household is eligible to register.
Important information
The initiative provides a free television reception assessment only and does not include the modification, repair, replacement or remediation of television reception equipment.
Households are under no obligation to undertake any recommendations or remediation activities identified in the assessment report.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be aged 18 years or older and live in a residential property located within the Shortland electorate.
Residential properties in multi-unit complexes such as apartments, aged care facilities and nursing homes are also eligible to apply provided you are able to obtain all permissions necessary to facilitate an assessment, including from landlords, tenants, property managers, owners’ corporations, strata bodies or other persons whose permission may be required.
Commercial properties, vacant properties and other non-residential property types are not eligible.
What happens after I submit my EOI?
Once you submit your EOI, the department will assess it for eligibility.
You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI and, if your household is selected to participate, you will be contacted by the department’s contracted service provider to arrange a free television reception assessment.
Household assessments are limited and selection is not guaranteed. EOIs must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered. Where the number of eligible EOIs exceeds the number of assessments available, eligible households will be selected in the order that complete submissions are received. The department may limit the number of household assessments provided to residential properties in multi-unit complexes to ensure an even distribution of assessments across the electorate.
What does the television reception assessment involve?
Assessment activities will be undertaken by technicians engaged by the department's contracted service provider.
Participants will be notified of the identity of the attending organisation and the agreed appointment details before any assessment visit occurs.
You, or an authorised representative aged 18 years or over, must be present during the assessment and provide reasonable access to the household and areas of shared infrastructure (for properties in multi-unit complexes).
The assessment may involve relevant activities including:
- inspection of cabling and television equipment within the home
- inspection of outdoor antennas and related infrastructure
- external environmental check
- discussion of your television reception experience
- identification of potential actions that may improve television reception
- discussion of potential alternatives for viewing television.
Following the assessment, you will receive a report summarising the technician’s findings and any recommendations.
Timing
Assessments are expected to occur between February and May 2027.
Households selected to participate will be contacted directly by the department's contracted service provider with further information about the assessment process and to arrange a suitable time for the assessment.
Privacy
Personal information provided as part of the EOI process including names, addresses and contact details, will be shared with the department's contracted service provider, (including their subcontractors, as necessary). De-identified information may also be shared with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), Ministers, and other stakeholders for the purposes of supporting policy advice, technical analysis or future government decision-making.
Personal information will be collected, used, stored and disclosed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the department's privacy policy.
Additional information
For more information, please see the Shortland Household Television Reception Initiative FAQs and the Shortland Household Television Reception Initiative factsheet.
Previous research
This initiative builds on previous research undertaken by the ACMA, which investigated terrestrial television coverage and reception in the Shortland electorate from December 2022 to June 2023. The findings of this investigation are outlined in the Terrestrial digital television coverage and reception in the Shortland electorate report.
Contacts
Email: ShortlandTV@communications.gov.au
Shortland Household Television Reception Initiative
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601