ACMA Australia to make changes to commercial radio broadcasting services in Launceston
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will make new FM frequencies available to commercial radio broadcasting services 7LA and 7EX in Launceston to improve reception in the central business district.
The ACMA has also decided to make a new high power open narrowcasting radio service available in Launceston, to operate on 1008 kHz on the AM band.
‘The new open narrowcasting service will be the first for the Launceston market and has the potential to play a major role in promoting diversity in programming for radio listeners in the area,’ said Chris Cheah, Acting Chair of the ACMA.
The ACMA will use a price-based allocation system to allocate the licence to provide the open narrowcasting service.
The new FM frequencies are for translator services for 7LA and 7EX to ‘infill’ where the coverage from the main transmitter is restricted and suffers multipath reception due to terrain obstruction. 7EX will be available on 100.3 MHz and 7LA on 101.1 MHz.
In early 2008 commercial broadcasters 7LA and 7EX switched from AM to FM services. It became apparent after this switchover that there were problems with the reception of the new FM services in the Launceston CBD. The additional FM translator frequencies will rectify these reception deficiencies.
The ACMA also considered whether to make available another frequency for community radio broadcasting but was not satisfied that an additional community radio service in the Launceston market would add substantially to the diversity of programs available in the Launceston region at this time.
These changes were made following consultation by the ACMA in the Launceston market.
The decisions are contained in the variation to the Launceston radio licence area plan released today and available from the ACMA website or by calling 1300 850 115.
Licence area plans
The ACMA prepares licence area plans under subsection 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the BSA). Licence area plans determine the number and characteristics, including technical specifications, of broadcasting services in particular areas of Australia with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The ACMA may vary licence area plans under subsection 26(2) of the BSA.
Section 23 of the BSA imposes specific obligations on the ACMA when carrying out its planning functions, including, among other things, that the ACMA is required to perform its functions in a way that promotes the objects of the BSA, including the economic and efficient use of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Section 27 of the BSA provides that the ACMA must make provision for wide public consultation when considering whether to make or vary a licence area plan.
Before making a decision to vary the Launceston licence area plan, the ACMA undertook the following consultation:
On 27 July 2009, the ACMA published the following papers on its website:
- a draft variation to the Launceston licence area plan;
- an explanatory paper about the changes proposed in the draft variation to the Launceston licence area plan, inviting public comment by 28 August 2009; and
- a media release announcing the proposed draft variation to the Launceston licence area plan.
On 29 July 2009, the ACMA wrote to the licensees providing radio broadcasting services to the Launceston region, to advise them of the release of the draft variation to the Launceston licence area plan and to invite their comments.
The ACMA placed an advertisement on the same day in the Launceston Examiner outlining the effect of the draft variation on the Launceston licence area plan, providing details of how to obtain copies of the draft variation, how to access it on the ACMA’s website, and inviting public comment.
The ACMA received six submissions on the draft variation to the Launceston licence area plan and accompanying explanatory paper.
In brief detail, the variation to the licence area plan released today:
- makes channel capacity (100.3 MHz and 101.1 MHz) available for additional translators at Launceston with a maximum ERP of 200 W (omni-directional) for the commercial radio services 7EX and 7LA, respectively, to rectify deficient coverage of these services to the central business district of Launceston;
- makes channel capacity in the AM band (1008 kHz) available for a new high power open narrowcasting service in Launceston with a maximum CMF of 1100 volts (directional) to promote the diversity of services available in Launceston;
- does not make channel capacity available for an additional community radio service in Launceston; and
- updates the description of the existing commercial and community licence areas in the Launceston licence area plan so that they are defined in terms used in the 2006 census.
Community broadcasting considerations
The ACMA received a submission from an aspirant broadcaster asserting that it should make channel capacity available for an additional community radio broadcasting service. After applying the planning criteria set out in section 23 of the BSA, the ACMA considered that it should not make this capacity available. The reasons for this include:
1. demographics and social and economic characteristics: Launceston is under-represented in diverse multi-cultural groups, and there is limited cultural demand for a service of this type;
2. existing services: Launceston is already well served with community broadcasting services in relation to comparable regional centres; and
3. other matters:
1. the arguments put forward were not compelling or indicative of substantial community support; and
2. the addition of a new community broadcaster might result in a reduction in the sponsorship available to the existing community broadcasters, thus reducing the financial capacity they have to provide their services.
Open narrowcasting services
Open narrowcasting services are broadcasting services whose reception is limited in at least one of a number of ways specified in section 18 of the BSA:
- by being targeted to special interest groups;
- by being intended for limited locations (e.g. arenas or business premises);
- by being provided during a limited period or to cover a special event;
- because they provide programs of limited appeal; or
- for some other reason.
Open narrowcasting services operate under the class licence provisions of the BSA. Class licences are not individually issued, but are a standing authority for any operator to enter the market and provide a service, as long as the operator has access to delivery capacity and abides by the conditions applicable to the relevant category of class licence.
Class licence service providers who wish to use the broadcasting services bands part of the radiofrequency spectrum must obtain a transmitter licence. A transmitter licence is a form of apparatus licence issued under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. It authorises the licensee to operate a radiocommunications transmitter in accordance with the conditions of the licence.
Key features of price-based allocation system
The ACMA will generally issue transmitter licences to provide open narrowcasting services under a price-based allocation system determined under section 106 of the Radiocommunications Act.
The ACMA will advertise for applications for licences to provide open narrowcasting services, which will then be allocated under the auction-style price-based system, unless there is only one application for a licence.
Licences will be allocated to the highest bidder or, if there is only one applicant, the licence will be allocated at the reserve price (subject to the requirements of the BSA or the Radiocommunications Act as applicable and the Determination which governs the system), following payment.
Applicants for licences will be required to register with the ACMA and pay an application fee for each licence applied for. The ACMA must set a reserve price for individual licences.
The duration of licences issued under the price-based allocation system is five years. At the end of the five year licence period, the ACMA may issue a new transmitter licence. The new licence may be issued either by way of price-based allocation or by way of application under section 100 of the Radiocommunications Act.
Topics: ACMA, Australia, Australian Communications and Media Authority, broadcasting, business, commercial radio broadcasting, diversity, fm frequencies, Governance, Launceston, narrowcasting, Radio, reception
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