Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme.

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A decision made (13/03/2009) regarding: Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme.

Decision Reference: MD-E-2009-0042
Decision Summary Title:	Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	09 March 2009
Decision Summary Author:	Strategy Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme		Date of Written Report:	4 March 2009
Written Report Author:	Strategy Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme - extension to Jersey.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the extension of the Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme to Jersey.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister, having taken into account the experience which will have been gained by the BBC in administering the Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme in the UK, considered that the BBC were best suited to administer the Scheme in Jersey.
Resource Implications: There will be no additional resources required from the States.
Action required: The Director of Regulatory Services to write to the Director of Policy for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme accepting the offer from the BBC to extend the Targeted Help Scheme to Jersey. The Director of Regulatory Services to write to the Chief Officer of Social Security advising him of this decision. The Director of Regulatory Services to write to the Data Protection Commissioner requesting confirmation that the methodology to be used in targeting those people eligible for the Targeted Help Scheme is within the constraints of the data protection legislation.
Signature: Senator A.J.H.Maclean		Position: Minister for Economic Development
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Digital Switchover Targeted Help Scheme.

Digital Switchover

Targeted Help Scheme

Background

The Digital Switchover Help Scheme is designed to provide practical help for those people who are expected to have the most difficulty in making the switch to digital television.

In the UK, the scheme is specifically targeted to cover all households in which one person, at the time of switchover, is:

Aged 75 years or over.
With a significant disability – that is, those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.
Registered blind or partially sighted.
Those requiring assistance in the run-up to switchover.

Eligible households will receive the following minimum level of support:

Receive help to convert one television set.
Help with installation.
An aerial replacement (if required).
Follow-up support.

The Scheme will cost eligible households a subsidised amount of £40.00 for the basic equipment and help. Where income support, job seeker’s allowance or pension credit is being received, it will be free.

In the UK the BBC is responsible for delivering the Scheme although day to day operation has been contracted out to eaga plc. It is run through an agreement with the government, and funded through the licence fee.

The scope of the Help Scheme is based on UK Government research that indicates that the eligible groups are the least likely to have digital television, and the most likely to struggle with adopting it.

The BBC works closely with Digital UK which delivers generic communications for the Help Scheme i.e. general awareness PR, advertising, and community campaign material. Its service provider, eaga plc, delivers targeted communications i.e. direct mail, dedicated PR, the website, and has management responsibility for delivery of the practical help required for switchover.

The Issues

Having considered the options available, the initial decision of the Channel Islands was to run their own Help Schemes. This decision was taken in light of the necessary data of those eligible being held by the respective Social Security Departments, and the perception that the Scheme could be administered more easily on Island.

Following a presentation from the Director of Policy for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme, there would appear to be benefits for accepting the offer from the BBC to extend its Scheme as it has done for the Isle of Man.

By the time the Channel Islands switch to digital television in November 2010, considerable experience will have been gained by the current operators in administering the Scheme.

The Help Scheme Vision is:

“To reach out to all eligible people, and ensure that those who need our help get it _ _ _ _ so that no-one is left behind in the switch to digital television.”

The strategic objectives from the BBC Trust are to:

Encourage Appropriate Take-Up
Identify and help the Most Vulnerable Eligible People
Ensure Customer Satisfaction
Maintain Value For Money.

The Core Receiver Requirements and the Code of Service Standards state:

Every eligible person should feel the help Scheme is designed for them.
Equipment is offered which meets the “core receiver requirements” (e.g. automatic retuning, easy access to subtitles and AD, an easy to use remote etc.) designed in consultation with the Consumer Expert Group (experts who represent the needs of elderly and disabled people).Those eligible don’t need to ask for special treatment for their needs. The CoSS sets very high standards of service, including:
- Accessible formats on demand (e.g. braille);
- Live call agents not a recorded message;
- Diversity trained, CRB checked installers;
- Chaperones, translators if required.

Those eligible will get help through:

An information pack containing an application form which will be sent out between 7 and 5 months before the switchover date of November 2010, ensuring help is delivered in good time.
Those people who do not respond will be contacted on a further two occasions.

Recommendation

Following the presentation from the Director of Policy for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme in the UK, it is recommended that the Targeted Help Scheme for Jersey be administered by the BBC in conjunction with eaga plc.

Social Security has agreed to work in partnership with the BBC, who will then contract eaga plc to ensure that all eligible people are targeted within the constraints of data protection legislation. This methodology has been approved in principle by the Data Protection Commissioner. The Scheme in Jersey will mirror as closely as possible that running in the UK.

As previously agreed Switchover is a Channel Islands venture and it is likely that Guernsey will take the same course of action.

Strategy Manager

4th March 2009