| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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To make it easier for the public to access the Assistance Scheme, IMDA works with the relevant agencies and VWOs to auto-include their existing beneficiaries that meet the eligibility criteria. This means that they do not need to apply for the Scheme, but IMDA will arrange to send them letters informing them of their eligibility and to instruct them to contact the appointed vendor for installation of the equipment. This made it much easier for the households to access the Scheme as they may not bother to apply for it themselves or have trouble filling up the application form.
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| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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The DTV Assistance Scheme was implemented by the then Media Development Authority of Singapore, now known as the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Based on the Department of Statistics, an estimated 160,000 households may qualify for the Scheme provided they are not pay TV subscribers. To date, we have reached out to 90,000 auto-included households and another 10,000 households have applied for the Scheme.
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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The Scheme was thought out and developed by the Digital Broadcasting Deployment Office (DBDO), a project office formed to oversee digital switchover, in the then Media Development Authority. We sought inputs from the Ministry of Communications and Information, and surfaced the proposal at Pre-Cabinet meetings for approval. A request for funding paper was submitted to the Ministry of Finance for funds to roll-out this Scheme.
Upon approval, DBDO conducted a tender exercise to appoint a vendor to roll-out the installation of equipment. We also consulted relevant agencies (such as Ministry of Social and Family Development, Housing Development Board, Ministry of Health) and VWOs for obtaining their database of beneficiaries to auto-include in the Scheme, and established secure file transfer links to facilitate the exchange of data and information.
DBDO administers the Scheme from the processing of applications to the checks on eligibility to the reimbursement payments to the vendor. The operational team overseeing the daily administration of the Scheme consists of 5 persons and DBDO’s Assistant Director and Director oversee the management of the team. The project team conducts monthly meetings with the vendor to sort out implementation issues, and the vendor submits a weekly progress report for the team’s tracking.
DBDO established a dedicated hotline for public inquiries on the Scheme, whilst the appointed vendor had a hotline for installation appointments and technical assistance. We also developed collateral such as posters and brochures to promote the Scheme in community areas such as Community Centres and residents’ notice boards, as well as buying advertisements in the main daily newspapers. We briefed the Senior Activity Centres’ administrators and VWOs on how they can assist their members with the Scheme application or fixing of installation appointment.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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The Scheme was thought out and developed by DBDO in the then Media Development Authority. We consulted the Ministry of Communications and Information, and surfaced the proposal at Pre-Cabinet meetings for approval. A paper to request for funding was submitted to the Ministry of Finance for funds to roll-out this Scheme.
Upon approval, DBDO conducted a tender exercise to appoint a vendor to roll-out the installation of equipment. DBDO works with relevant agencies such as the Housing Development Board, Ministry of Social and Family, VWOs including Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), Council for the Development of Malay/ Muslim Community (Mendaki) , Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), Sinkh Welfare Council (SIWEC) to obtain the database of eligible beneficiaries to auto-include in the Scheme, and the Central Provident Fund Board and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore to conduct checks on declared income to ensure applicants’ eligibility.
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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The take up of the Scheme contributes to overall DTV take-up rate – more households are prepared for analogue switch-off.
The Senior Activity Centres are outfitted with a free DTV set-top box and antenna, making DTV available in communal areas.
The low income households are offered equal access to new technology and are not left behind in the transition to DTV.
The elderly and disabled are given opportunities to learn more about DTV and how to prepare for analogue switch-off through briefing sessions, events, workshops.
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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Letters were sent to around 97,000 auto-included households but only around half of them responded with any follow-up action despite reminder letters and door knocks. DBDO is working with the appointed vendor to conduct a dedicated door knock exercise by estates to address these unresponsive households.
An analogue switch-off awareness campaign will be launched this year to highlight the analogue switch-off date and its implications, and issue a call-to-action to eligible households who have yet to apply for the Scheme.
A number of households who received the equipment have difficulties remembering how to use the equipment. The vendor handles troubleshooting over the phone and repeat house visits if required. DBDO is also planning for DTV clinics in the Senior Activity Centres this year to provide technical assistance to the seniors.
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