It's later than you think: the Productivity Commission's Broadcasting Inquiry and beyond

The central argument of the Productivity Commission's final report on broadcasting is that Australian media policy requires substantial renovation if it is to deal effectively with new communications technologies. This article discusses the application of this argument to several important aspects of the inquiry: spectrum allocation and pricing, digital television policy, ownership and control, and local content regulation. Finally, it provides a brief comment on media coverage of the inquiry and notes factors which may work in favour of policy reform