Transmission Equipment Grant Round 1 2015/16

Read these grant guidelines before you apply. Even if you frequently apply under this category, read them each round, as the grant guidelines are regularly revised. The grant guidelines include important information about this grant category including what you can use the grant for and the criteria used by the General Grants Advisory Committee to assess your application.

To assist the ongoing development of Australian community radio stations through grants to purchase and install essential transmission equipment or conduct activities that will improve their transmission facilities.

• a community radio station with a long-term or a temporary licence
• a local group of community stations seeking to form partnerships, or in partnership 
• a licensed Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Service (RIBS) 
• a Remote Indigenous Media Organisation (RIMO) applying on behalf of one or more RIBS

Grants are not available to stations broadcasting under a narrowcast licence or to stations for equipment for their digital radio service.  A station with a temporary licence must have been on air for at least two years cumulatively prior to applying.  Additional conditions are imposed on temporary licensees with regard to ownership of assets purchased with the grant.

For an application up to $10,000 you may be funded the full amount.  For an application funded for more than $10,000 you will be required to make a matching contribution according to the following formula:  If the project is for $20,000, CBF will fund the first $10,000 and half of the second $10,000:  $15,000 in total.  You will need to contribute $5,000.  The maximum grant is $50,000 (for a $90,000+ project).  Only one application per applicant will be accepted.

Preference is given to projects which:

• relate to a longer term transmission strategy for the station
• are cooperative arrangements that have productive outcomes for more than one community broadcaster
• relate to the list of higher priority equipment rather than the list of lower priority equipment:

a) Higher priority equipment:

• a transmitter
• an antenna, mast or tower
• cabling and connectors 
• filters and combiners
• transmission related codecs
• link equipment (STL/codec)
• installation costs directly related to this piece of equipment

b) Lower priority equipment:

• audio processor 
• modulation monitor 
• protected power supplies (generator, UPS)  
• standby equipment 
• program fail alarms 
• transmitter control equipment

The priorities for applicants are those who

• last received a grant in this category more than a year ago
• produce and transmit more than 50 hours weekly of local programming.  Local programming is considered programming that is produced for your station, broadcast for the first time by a presenter in your studio.  It does not include pre-scheduled music content.
• have an annual income less than $85,000.
• have organisational cash reserves of less than $100,000.  For CBF purposes, cash reserves are defined as amounts that should appear in the current assets section of your annual financial statements as "cash and cash equivalents" or similar, including cheque and deposit accounts and petty cash.  "Trade debtors", "accounts receivable" or "inventories" should not be included.
• have met all reporting requirements for previous CBF grants

To purchase equipment or improve facilities to carry your radio signal from the studio to the audience.

Refer to the Transmission Equipment Grants summary of Past Grant Allocations for grants awarded in this category in the last round to gain a sense of typical allocations.

In exceptional circumstances you may apply for a grant to replace damaged or destroyed essential equipment and related immediate expenses in order to restore basic transmission following an unforeseen event such as flood, bushfire, lightning or accidental damage (but not operator failure). Grants will be approved outside the normal grant rounds - you will receive advice about the success of your application within approximately two weeks, however you are encouraged to seek immediate solutions from within the sector by borrowing equipment where possible in the short term. For more information, see Emergency grants on the CBF website.

To purchase any of the following: 

• equipment for a digital radio service
• studio, production or office equipment
• equipment for webcasting audio streaming 
• OB broadcast facilities
• computers or satellite equipment
• equipment you have already contracted to purchase

Applications will be competitively assessed and given a score against the following assessment criteria.  To meet the criteria you must:

• have an urgent need for the equipment or project
• put a strong argument that the equipment or project is essential rather than discretionary
• have received adequate technical advice
• have obtained or have applied for the necessary permits or approvals to install the proposed equipment.  Refer to the Guide to transmission site permits for assistance. 
• explain the process you will undertake to deliver the project
• be able to provide matching funding over $10,000

• Quotes from three suppliers for every item/service (if relevant).  Australian web-based prices are acceptable as quotes.  Identify clearly which supplier you are using for each item.  You can refer to the helpful suppliers' list reference with contact details of suppliers who have assisted community stations with previous grant applications.
• Copy of your broadcasting apparatus licence and link apparatus licence (if you have one) issued by ACMA.  The broadcasting licence must show the licence type and number, carrier frequency and ERP for the service and must be current (ie not past the date of expiry).  The link licence must show the licence type and number, site names and operating mode (transmit or receive) and must be current.  Licence renewal or licence instalment notices are not acceptable as they contain insufficient detail.
• A block diagram of your transmission chain, as it is now and what it will look like if your application is successful.  You can hand draw it, but label the components clearly.  A sample "mudmap" is available for you to get an idea of what it can look like.
• A project timeline, including planning already completed
• A program grid that clearly highlights which programs are produced at your station and presented by volunteers, and which programs are sourced from outside your station (e.g. automated via satellite, networks, etc.)
• Most recent Annual Report with audited financial statements that identify your total organisational income and cash reserves (if not previously supplied)
• Other supporting documents, including a copy of the relevant entries in the station's "technical fault log" , depending on what you are applying for:

     > To replace a piece of equipment or duplicate it for a backup, identify the age of the existing unit and what breakdowns it has experienced.  If you want to replace equipment because parts are no longer available, include a statement to that effect from the manufacturer.

     > To replace damaged equipment, describe         

           i) what professional advice you have received that the damaged equipment can not be repaired;  

           ii) whether you have lodged an insurance claim to replace the damaged equipment and the status of that claim;

   iii) the circumstances that led to the equipment being damaged or destroyed and how you will avoid that happening again;

     > To replace equipment because it is corroded, include a copy of written confirmation from an engineer or other professional that replacement is necessary, and an explanation of how you will prevent future damage.

     > To purchase a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), indicate how many minutes of power it will provide and what piece of equipment it will provide power to.  Refer to the "Guide for selecting a UPS" for assistance.

     > To purchase a generator, explain where the generator will be located, how many hours of power it will provide, and how often you think you might need it, based on how often you might have used it in the past year.

     > To purchase a modulation monitor, identify any other community stations in your area with which you could share the unit.