Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007 (Cth)
Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007
as amended
made under section 33 of the
Broadcasting Services Act 1992
This compilation was prepared on 23 October 2009
taking into account amendments up to Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Amendment Guidelines 2009 (No. 1)
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra
Technical Planning Guidelines
FOR THE PLANNING OF INDIVIDUAL SERVICES THAT USE THE BROADCASTING SERVICES BANDS
Foreword
Section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act requires the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to develop in writing guidelines for the technical planning of individual services that use the broadcasting services bands as a means of delivery.
Each of the following must comply with these Guidelines:
(a) the licensee of a transmitter licence issued to the holder of:
(i) a temporary community broadcasting licence issued under Part 6A of the Broadcasting Services Act (see paragraph 108A (1) (d) of the Radiocommunications Act); or
(ii) a commercial radio broadcasting licence issued under Part 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act (see paragraph 109 (1) (e) of the Radiocommunications Act); or
(iii) a commercial television broadcasting licence issued under Part 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act (see paragraph 109 (1) (e) of the Radiocommunications Act); or
(iv) a community television broadcasting licence issued under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act (see paragraph 109 (1) (e) of the Radiocommunications Act); or
(v) a community radio broadcasting licence issued under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act (see paragraph 109 (1) (e) of the Radiocommunications Act);
(b) the holder of a datacasting transmitter licence issued under Part 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act (see paragraph 109A (1) (f) of the Radiocommunications Act);
(c) the holder of a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence issued under Part 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act (see paragraph 109B (1) (n) of the Radiocommunications Act);
(d) any authorised person under those licences.[1]
[1] The reference to a licence issued under Part 4 or 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act includes a licence which continues in force pursuant to the provisions of subsection 5 (1) of the Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 as if the licence had been allocated under Part 4 or 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act, ie a commercial or community licence under the Broadcasting Act 1942.
Note that transmitter licences for National Broadcasting Services issued under sections 100 or 100B or narrowcasting licences issued under section 100 of the Radiocommunications Act, may also include a licence condition requiring compliance with specified guidelines or parts of these Guidelines.
The Guidelines set down procedures that must be followed and limits that must be observed by licensees when planning new transmission facilities or making alterations to existing transmission facilities.
In the case of transmitter licences that are subject to Licence Area Plans (LAPs), by reason of paragraph 109 (1) (d) of the Radiocommunications Act, the transmitter licence is also subject to a condition that the licensee, and any authorised person, must not operate, or permit operation of a transmitter other than in accordance with any relevant technical specifications determined by ACMA in the LAP under subsection 26 (1) of the Broadcasting Services Act.
Nothing in the application of these Guidelines should compromise the integrity of the LAP.
In the case of transmitter licences that are subject to Digital Channel Plans (DCPs), the transmitter licence is also subject to a condition that the licensee, and any authorised person, must not operate, or permit operation of a transmitter other than in accordance with the relevant technical specifications determined by ACMA[2] in the DCPs made under the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated under subclause 6 (1) of Schedule 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
[2] This also includes DCPs made by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA).
Nothing in the application of these Guidelines should compromise the integrity of the DCPs.
In addition to the mandatory requirements detailed in these guidelines, licensees are reminded of their responsibility to obtain all necessary approvals for planning and environmental matters from relevant Federal, State/Territory and local government authorities. Licensees must also ensure compliance with ACMA regulatory requirements dealing with human exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR), which are applicable to broadcasting transmitters. Further information on EMR regulatory arrangements can be obtained from the ACMA website ( licensee of a transmitter licence that is subject to a digital radio channel plan (DRCP), or an authorised person, must not operate, or permit the operation of, a multiplex transmitter otherwise than in accordance with the relevant technical specifications determined by the relevant DRCP (see paragraph 109B (1) (m) of the Radiocommunications Act).
Nothing in the application of these Guidelines should compromise the integrity of the DRCP.
Contents
Introduction 1
Name of guidelines [see Note 1] 1
Commencement [see Note 1] 1
Revocation 1
Application 1
Licence area plan 1
Digital channel plan 1
Digital radio channel plan 2
The broadcasting services bands 2
Planning handbooks 3
Definitions 3
Part 1: Start up procedure 10
Application of Part 1 10
Start up procedure 10
Part 2: Change of transmitter site procedure 12
Application of Part 2 12
Change of transmitter site procedure 12
Part 3: Am radio 14
Application of Part 3 14
Location of transmitter site 14
Cymomotive Force (CMF) 14
Minimum level of service requirements 14
Maximum field strength within the licence area 15
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area 15
Interference to other services 15
Radiated signal characteristics 16
Part 4: Fm radio 17
Application of Part 4 17
Location of transmitter site 17
Required field strength between adjacent frequencies 17
Effective radiated power 17
Minimum level of service requirements 17
Maximum antenna height 18
Maximum field strength within the licence area 18
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area 19
Interference to other services 19
Radiated signal characteristics 20
Part 5: Analog television 21
Application of Part 5 21
Location of transmitter site 21
Effective radiated power 21
Minimum level of service requirements 21
Maximum antenna height 22
Maximum field strength within the licence area 23
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area 23
Interference to other services 23
Radiated signal characteristics 25
Part 6: Digital television 26
Application of Part 6 26
Location of transmitter site 26
Effective radiated power 26
Minimum level of service requirements 26
Maximum field strength within the licence area or datacasting service area 27
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area or datacasting service area 28
Interference to other services 28
Single frequency networks and additional co‑channel transmitters 33
Radiated signal characteristics 34
Part 7: Interference management scheme for digital television 35
Application of Part 7 35
Definitions 35
Postcode population threshold 36
Notification areas 37
Agreements between licensees 41
Start up procedure 42
Log of technical operating specifications 45
Interference complaints: test transmissions and other transmissions 46
Obligation period 46
Register of complaints 48
Predicted and unpredicted interference to analog transmissions: background 48
Management of predicted interference 49
Management of unpredicted interference: handling complaint 50
Management of unpredicted interference: resolution of complaint (general) 51
Management of unpredicted interference: resolution of complaint (post code population threshold) 52
Part 8: Digital radio 55
Division 1 Application of Part 8 55
Division 2 Location of transmitter site 55
Division 3 Effective radiated power 55
Division 4 Minimum level of service requirements 55
Division 5 Maximum field strength within designated BSA radio area 56
Division 6 Maximum field strength beyond designated BSA radio area boundary 56
Division 7 Interference to other services 57
Subdivision 1 Interference to analog television 57
Subdivision 2 Interference to digital television or datacasting 60
Subdivision 3 Interference to other digital radio or restricted datacasting services 61
Subdivision 4 Complaints about interference 62
Subdivision 5 Protection ratio value 63
Division 8 Single frequency networks and additional co‑channel transmitters 63
Division 9 Radiated signal characteristics 64
Appendix 1: Emission Standard for the Australian Amplitude Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service 65
Definitions 65
Radiated signal characteristics 66
Program signal characteristics 66
Audio frequency response 69
Gamut of sum and difference modulation 69
Appendix 2: Emission Standard for the Australian Frequency Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service 71
Definitions 71
Radiated signal characteristics 72
Main program signal characteristics 73
Ancillary communications services 75
Appendix 3: Emission Standard for the Australian Analog Terrestrial Television Service 80
Definitions 80
Radiated signal characteristics 81
Video characteristics 82
Primary colour signals 84
Vision signal characteristics 85
Sound signal characteristics 85
Appendix 4: Transmission Standard for the Australian Digital
Terrestrial Television Service 94
Transmission standard 94
Channels 94
Other relevant standards 94
Appendix 5: Channels for the Australian Terrestrial Television
Service 95
Appendix 6: Digital radio (DAB) frequency blocks 97
Explanatory Notes 99
Introduction 99
Planning before the Broadcasting Services Act 99
Overview of planning under the Broadcasting Services Act 100
Outline of the Technical Planning Guidelines 103
Emission standards for broadcasting transmitters 107
TPGs and Planning handbooks 108
Relationship between the TPGs, FAP, LAPs, the Broadcasting Services Act and the Radiocommunications Act 109
How to obtain a broadcasting service licence and the relevant transmitter licence 110
Alternative uses of the broadcasting services bands 111
Annex A: Explanatory notes related to digital television 112
Minimum level of service requirements 112
Maximum antenna height requirements 112
Adjacent channel and SFN operation 112
Levels of allowable interference 114
Measurement and assessment of interference 115
Notes 117
Tables
Table 5.1: Planned minimum field strength figures for analog television
Table 6.1:Planned minimum field strength figures for digital television
Table A2.1:Frequency limits of Australian FM channels
Table A3.1:CIE*15 Chromaticity coordinates and balance for a white chromaticity of CIE illuminant D65
Table A3.2:Timing intervals of the video signal
Table A3.3:Colour sub‑carrier amplitudes and phases for fully saturated primary and complementary colours
Table A5.1:Channels for the Australian Terrestrial Television Service
Table A6.1: Frequency blocks for digital radio services (174-230MHz) 97
Figures
Figure A1.1: Emission mask for radiated field strength
Figure A1.2: Gamut of C‑QUAM modulation
Figure A2.1: Maximum deviation of 67 kHz ACS sub‑carrier versus audio modulated frequency for music and voice
Figure A2.2: Maximum deviation of 67 kHz ACS sub‑carrier versus audio modulating frequency for audio FSK
Figure A2.3: Maximum deviation versus injection for direct FSK of
67 kHz ACS sub‑carrier
Figure A2.4: Audio frequency pre‑emphasis characteristics for 50 and 150 microsecond time constant
Figure A3.1: Video signal
Figure A3.2: Video signal corresponding to fully saturated colours
Figure A3.3: Phase of burst E’U & E’V signals
Figure A3.4: Four field sequence of burst blanking and subcarrier phase
Figure A3.5: Location of carriers and sidebands within the channel
Figure A3.6: Sound transmitter modulating signal pre‑emphasis
Figure A3.7: Nominal group delay precorrection characteristic
Introduction
Name of guidelines [see Note 1]
1. These guidelines are the Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007.
Commencement [see Note 1]
1A. These guidelines commence on the day after they are registered.
Revocation
1B. The Australian Broadcasting Authority Technical Planning Guidelines 2003 are revoked.
Application
2. These guidelines apply to broadcasting licensees, datacasting licensees and DRMT licensees.
Licence area plan
3. Where they relate to analog broadcasting services these guidelines complement, and are to be read in conjunction with, the technical specifications of any relevant LAP prepared pursuant to section 26 of the Broadcasting Services Act. To the extent that those technical specifications are inconsistent with pre‑existing transmitter licence conditions, the LAP specifications will prevail.
4. The technical operating specifications of a transmitter shall comply with the technical specifications of the relevant LAP.
Digital channel plan
4A. Where they relate to digital television broadcasting and datacasting services these guidelines complement, and are to be read in conjunction with, the technical specifications of any relevant DCP prepared pursuant to:
(a) the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated by the ABA under subclause 6 (1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act; and
(b) the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated by the ABA under subclause 19 (1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act.
4B. The technical operating specifications of a transmitter shall comply with the technical specifications of the relevant DCP unless those technical specifications are revised in an approved implementation plan, in which case the technical specifications of the approved implementation plan will be applied.
Digital radio channel plan
4C. Where these Guidelines relate to digital radio broadcasting services, the Guidelines complement, and are to be read in conjunction with, the technical specifications of any relevant DRCP prepared under section 44A of the Radiocommunications Act.
4D. If the technical specifications in the DRCP are inconsistent with transmitter licence conditions, the technical specifications prevail.
4E. The technical operating specifications of a transmitter must comply with the technical specifications in the relevant DRCP.
The broadcasting services bands
5. The Minister, under subsection 18 (3) of the Radiocommunications Act 1983, assigned certain parts of the radiofrequency spectrum designated as primarily for broadcasting (the broadcasting services bands) to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) for planning. Under section 4 of the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 and subitem 12 (3) of Schedule 4 to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 this assignment is taken to be a referral to ACMA under subsection 31 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act.
6. The broadcasting services bands are:
· 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz in the medium frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. AM radio services are allocated frequencies in this range.
·45 to 52 MHz and 56 to 70 MHz (Band I) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services are allocated frequencies in this range.
· 85 to 108 MHz (Band II) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services were allocated frequencies in this range, however 87.5 to 108 MHz has been set aside internationally for FM radio and ACMA will consider, as part of the public planning process, future clearance of television services occupying this part of the spectrum. No new television services will be allocated Band II frequencies.
· 137 to 144 MHz (channel 5A) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services were allocated frequencies in this range, however no new assignments will be made of these frequencies.
· 174 to 230 MHz (Band III) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog and digital television services and digital radio services are allocated frequencies in this range.
· 520 to 820 MHz (Bands IV and V) in the ultra high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog and digital television services are allocated frequencies in this range.
Planning handbooks
7. Detailed information on methods for planning of analog broadcasting services is contained in the Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting. It provides, inter alia, information on ACMA planning practices and assumptions, including acceptable methods of computing field strengths and other parameters for compliance with these guidelines and other specifications of the transmitter licence.
7A. For digital television and datacasting services, the information in Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting is supplemented by the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook.
Note The documents mentioned in guidelines 7 and 7A are available from ACMA’s website ( 7B. For digital radio broadcasting services, ACMA may amend the parts of the Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting and the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook relevant to the planning of digital radio broadcasting services.
Definitions
Note Wherever possible the definitions of terms below are consistent with the Broadcasting Services Act, the Radiocommunications Act and the ITU Radio Regulations. Unless defined below, words shall have the same meanings as in the Broadcasting Services Act, or the Radiocommunications Act, or the ITU Radio Regulations, as appropriate.
8. In these guidelines, unless the contrary intention appears:
ABA means the Australian Broadcasting Authority that was established under section 154 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
Note On 1 July 2005 ACMA took over the functions that had previously been performed by the ABA.
ACA means the Australian Communications Authority that was established under the Australian Communications Authority Act 1997.
Note On 1 July 2005 ACMA took over the functions that had previously been performed by the ACA.
ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media Authority established under the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005.
AM radio means medium frequency, amplitude modulated radio services located in the frequency range 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz.
AM radio service includes an AM radio broadcasting service, an AM radio national broadcasting service, and an AM radio narrowcasting service.
analog reference television receiving system — see the definition of reference television receiving system.
analog television means television services using analog modulation techniques located in the frequency ranges 45 MHz to 230 MHz and 520 MHz to 820 MHz.
analog television service includes an analog television broadcasting service, an analog television national broadcasting service, and an analog television narrowcasting service.
authorised person means a person authorised under Division 4 of Part 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act.
broadcasting licensee means a holder of an apparatus licence authorising the operation of a transmitter under section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act.
broadcasting service means a service that delivers television programs or radio programs in the broadcasting services bands, using a transmitter licence issued under section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act.
Broadcasting Services Act means the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
broadcasting services bands has the meaning set out in guideline 6.
BSA licence area has the meaning given by section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act.
channel means part of the radiofrequency spectrum intended to be used for an emission and which may be defined by two specified limits, or by its centre frequency and associated bandwidth, or by an equivalent indication.
Note Channel arrangements applicable to AM radio, FM radio, analog television and digital television are described in the respective emission standards, set out in the appendices to these guidelines.
cymomotive force (CMF) is the product formed by multiplying the electric field strength at a given point in space, due to a transmitting station, by the distance of the point from the antenna. CMF can only be calculated if the distance from the transmitting antenna is sufficient for reactive effects to be negligible; moreover, the finite conductivity of the ground is presumed to have no effect on propagation. CMF is expressed in volts and corresponds numerically to the field strength, in mV/m, at a distance of 1 km.
datacasting licensee means any holder of a datacasting transmitter licence.
datacasting service means a service that is, or a number of services together that are, delivered under the authority of a datacasting transmitter licence issued under the Radiocommunications Act.
datacasting service area means the geographical area in which ACMA has made available a channel for use by a datacasting service, as described in the relevant determination made under section 34 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
datacasting transmitter licence has the same meaning as in the Radiocommunications Act.
designated BSA radio area has the meaning given by section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act.
device has the same meaning as in subsection 9 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act.
Digital Channel Plan (DCP) means an instrument developed by ACMA under:
(a) the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated under subclause 6 (1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act; or
(b) the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated under subclause 19 (1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act;
that determines which channels are to be allotted in each area, the technical limitations and characteristics of those channels, and the channel assignments (either to broadcasters or as ‘unassigned’ channels).
digital radio broadcasting service means a commercial, community or national radio broadcasting service transmitted using a digital radio multiplex transmitter.
Digital Radio Channel Plan (DRCP) means a plan made under section 44A of the Radiocommunications Act.
digital reference television receiving system — see the definition of reference television receiving system.
digital television means television services using digital modulation techniques located in the frequency ranges 174 MHz to 230 MHz and 520 MHz to 820 MHz.
digital television service includes a digital television broadcasting service and a digital national television broadcasting service.
DRMT licensee means the holder of a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence issued under the Radiocommunications Act.
effective radiated power (ERP) in a specified direction is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and its gain relative to a half‑wave dipole in the specified direction.
EMC calculations means calculations that detail the ability of a transmitter to operate without causing interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees. EMC calculations must take into account possible interference occurrences due to intermodulation, harmonic products, local oscillator radiation and co‑channel and adjacent channel services.
Note Services provided by radiocommunications licensees include broadcasting services, national broadcasting services, datacasting services, digital radio broadcasting services and restricted datacasting services.
FM radio means very high frequency, frequency modulated radio services located in the frequency range 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz.
FM radio service includes an FM radio broadcasting service, an FM radio national broadcasting service, and an FM radio narrowcasting service (other than a low power open narrowcasting service).
frequency block means a frequency channel that has a 1.536 MHz bandwidth.
Note 1 For digital radio, the frequency blocks are identified by the European channel number allocated to the television channel and lettered in the sequence A, B, C, D. For digital television, Australian television channels 6, 7, 8, 9 and 9A correspond to European television channel numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively. Australian and European television channels have identical numbering for television channels 10, 11 and 12.
Note 2 Appendix 6 lists digital radio frequency block identifiers and frequencies.
guidelines means the technical planning guidelines set out in this document (and its appendices), as developed by ACMA pursuant to section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
implementation plan means one or more plans related to the implementation of digital television transmission under clause 9 or 20 of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act. The processes for the lodgement and variation of implementation plans are described in the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 and the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999.
interference means:
(a) in relation to radiocommunications — interference to, or with, radiocommunications that is attributable, whether wholly or partly and whether directly or indirectly, to an emission of electromagnetic energy by a device; or
(b) in relation to the uses or functions of devices — interference to, or with, those uses or functions that is attributable, whether wholly or partly and whether directly or indirectly, to an emission of electromagnetic energy by a device.
Note This is a general definition that applies to all interference mechanisms. In the particular cases of co‑channel, first adjacent channel and image channel interference to analog and digital television and datacasting, clarifications on the level of interference allowed are given in Parts 5 and 6 of these guidelines.
licence area means an area designated by ACMA under section 29, 40 or 92G of the Broadcasting Services Act.
licence area plan (LAP) means a licence area plan prepared by ACMA pursuant to section 26 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
licensee means any of the following:
(a) a broadcasting licensee;
(b) a datacasting licensee;
(c) a DRMT licensee.
locality means an area designated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as a locality at the 2001 Census.
Note In broad terms, a locality corresponds to a population cluster of between 200 and 999 people.
low power open narrowcasting service means an open narrowcasting service operating with an effective radiated power not exceeding 1 watt (W) in a residential area and an effective radiated power not exceeding 10 W in a non‑residential area.
narrowcasting service means a subscription or open narrowcasting service under section 17 or 18 of the Broadcasting Services Act.
narrowcasting service area means the geographical area in which ACMA has made available a channel for use by a narrowcasting service, as described in the LAP or transmitter licence.
national broadcasting service means an AM or FM radio or analog or digital television broadcasting service provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation or the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation.
national signal reception area means the signal reception area of a national broadcasting service. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP, DCP or transmitter licence conditions, the signal reception area of a national broadcasting service is defined as:
(a) for AM radio — the area in which the ground wave median field strength is equal to, or greater than, 0.5 mV/m; and
(b) for FM radio — the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, 54 dBmV/m; and
(c) for analog television — the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 5.1; and
(d) for digital television — the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 6.1.
nominal location means the location of the transmitter specified in a LAP, DCP or DRCP.
planned minimum field strength means the minimum median field strength planned for a service and for which protection is afforded against interference. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP, DCP, DRCP or transmitter licence conditions, the planned minimum field strength is defined as:
(a) for AM radio — 0.5 mV/m; and
(b) for FM radio — 54 dBmV/m; and
(c) for analog television — the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 5.1; and
(d) for digital television — the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 6.1; and
(e) for digital radio — 63 dBmV/m.
Note A higher median field strength may be specified for some broadcasting services. For example, an interference limited service, or a service intended to serve an area for which protection to the median field strength levels noted above is not required. An example of such a service could be a translator that serves several suburbs with deficient coverage but whose coverage area is enclosed within that of a much higher powered transmitter that covers most of a much larger metropolitan area.
protection ratio means the ratio between the wanted and unwanted signals, at the receiver input, that must be exceeded to avoid unacceptable interference.
Radiocommunications Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
radiocommunications licensee has the same meaning as a licensee under the Radiocommunications Act.
reference television receiving system means a television receiving system comprising a receiver and an antenna system. For analog television systems the reference television receiver is defined in Attachment 3C.BB of Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting. For digital television systems the reference television receiver is defined in Appendices B and E of the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook, supplemented by data on antenna directivity discrimination and orthogonal wave polarisation discrimination in Attachment 3C.BB of Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting.
related licence means the licence allocated or deemed to have been allocated under Part 4, Part 6 or Part 6A of the Broadcasting Services Act to which the transmitter licence issued pursuant to section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act relates.
residential area means the area within 20 km of the boundary of an urban centre or locality.
restricted datacasting services means a datacasting service provided under a restricted datacasting licence issued under Schedule 6 to the Broadcasting Services Act.
single frequency network (SFN) means a network comprising two or more transmitters that operate on the same frequency and transmit identical data streams with controlled timing between the transmitters.
technical operating specifications of a transmitter include all the characteristics of the transmitter in operation, including site, height of the transmitting antenna, frequency and radiation pattern.
transmitter means, subject to guideline 8A:
(a) anything designed or intended for radio emission; or
(b) any other thing, irrespective of its use or function or the purpose of its design, that is capable of radio emission.
transmitter licence means any of the following licences:
(a) a broadcasting service transmitter licence;
(b) a national broadcasting service transmitter licence;
(c) a narrowcasting service transmitter licence;
(d) a datacasting transmitter licence;
(e) a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence.
unwanted, in the context of an unwanted signal or unwanted service, means the signal or service that may cause interference under the specified circumstances or conditions.
urban centre means an area designated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as an urban centre at the 2001 Census.
Note In broad terms, an urban centre corresponds to a population cluster of 1,000 or more people.
wanted, in the context of a wanted signal or wanted service, means the signal or service that may experience, or suffer from, interference under the specified circumstances or conditions.
8A. A reference to a transmitter in the following Parts of these guidelines applies only to a transmitter of the kind specified in relation to that Part:
(a) in Part 3 — a transmitter authorised to transmit an AM radio service;
(b) in Part 4 — a transmitter authorised to transmit an FM radio service;
(c) in Part 5 — a transmitter authorised to transmit an analog television service;
(d) in Part 6 — a transmitter authorised to transmit either or both of a digital television service and a datacasting service;
(e) in Part 8 — a transmitter authorised to transmit either or both of digital radio broadcasting services or restricted datacasting services.
9. All field strength predictions and measurements are to be made at a receive height of 10 metres above ground. Any specified field strength shall be predicted on the basis that the field strength would be exceeded at more than 50% of locations for more than 50% of the time.
Note At VHF and UHF frequencies, location variability is typically quoted for an area represented by a square with a side of 100 metres to 200 metres.
10. Headings in these guidelines are for convenient reference only and have no effect in limiting or extending the language of the guidelines to which they refer.
11. Words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.
Part 1 Start up procedure
Application of Part 1
12. The following procedure must be followed by a licensee (except a licensee to which Part 7 applies), or an authorised person, if:
(a) the licensee or authorised person is planning to establish a transmitter to transmit:
(i) a broadcasting service; or
(ii) a datacasting service; or
(iii) a digital radio broadcasting service; or
(iv) a restricted datacasting service;
(b) the licensee or authorised person is planning to change the technical operating specifications of a transmitter which is authorised for transmitting:
(i) a broadcasting service; or
(ii) a datacasting service; or
(iii) a digital radio broadcasting service; or
(iv) a restricted datacasting service.
Note Part 2 of these guidelines should also be followed if a change of transmission site is proposed.
Start up procedure
13. The start up procedure is as follows:
(a) a licensee or an authorised person is required to place advertisements in newspapers circulating within the licence area or datacasting service area of the licence at least seven days prior to the commencement of test transmissions. The advertisement is to advise members of the public to contact the licensee or authorised person if the broadcast causes interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees. The advertisement must detail the date and time of commencement of the test transmissions, the duration of the test transmissions, the frequency being used and the appropriate person’s contact details including the address and telephone number of the person responsible for the tests;
(b) a licensee, or an authorised person, must advise:
(i) the local ACMA office; and
(ii) broadcasting licensees and national broadcasting licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(iii) datacasting licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(iv) narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(v) broadcasting licensees and national broadcasting licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(vi) datacasting licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(vii) narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area; and
(viii) DRMT licensees that provide services within the licence area, designated BSA radio area or datacasting service area; and
(ix) DRMT licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area, designated BSA radio area or datacasting service area;
of the date and proposed technical operating specifications of the test transmissions at least seven days prior to the commencement of test transmissions and provide contact details including the address and telephone numbers of the person responsible for the tests;
Note ACMA may require the licensee or authorised person to submit copies of press advertisements or other notifications mentioned in paragraph (a) and (b) of guideline 13.
(c) where practicable, test transmissions should include regular voice announcements, or, in the case of an analog television broadcasting service, voice or visual information, identifying the licensee or authorised person and providing sufficient details for members of the public to contact the licensee or authorised person if the broadcast causes interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees;
(d) a licensee or an authorised person shall undertake test transmissions in accordance with this procedure for a period of at least seven (7) days;
(e) the licensee shall, for a period of at least seven (7) days, conduct test transmissions in accordance with the technical operating specifications that the licensee intends to apply to the transmissions after the test procedure is complete;
(f) the licensee or an authorised person is required to undertake any necessary further planning so as to eliminate or minimise interference identified during the test transmissions;
(g) all interference caused to services provided by radiocommunications licensees by the transmissions in guideline 13 (e) above should be eliminated or minimised before the test transmission procedure is completed;
(h) interference assessment reports and documentation of any relevant calculations are to be made available on request to ACMA. Information on interference assessment investigations shall also be provided on request to any person claiming to be adversely affected due to interference as a result of the operation of the licensee’s transmitter during the period of the test transmissions.
Part 2 Change of transmitter site procedure
Application of Part 2
14. The following procedure shall be followed by a licensee or authorised person when proposing to locate a transmitter at a site that is not at:
(a) the current location; or
(b) the location specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence; or
(c) the location specified in the technical specifications of a LAP, DCP or DRCP (or an approved implementation plan).
Note If a licensee to which Part 7 applies proposes to add an additional transmitter at a site that is not specified in a technical specification in a DCP (or an approved implementation plan), Part 2 will apply in addition to Part 7.
Change of transmitter site procedure
15. The change of transmitter site procedure is as follows:
(a) the licensee or an authorised person shall cause appropriate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) calculations to be performed by a person competent to carry out such calculations;
Note For services described in a LAP, DCP or DRCP, calculations must be performed assuming maximum ERP specifications as set out in the LAP, DCP or DRCP (whichever is applicable).
(b) the licensee or an authorised person shall then provide to ACMA the EMC calculations together with a completed application for a test transmission licence;
(c) if ACMA is satisfied that:
(i) the EMC calculations indicate that operation from the alternate site will not cause interference to existing services provided by radiocommunications licensees, including:
(A) broadcasting services; and
(B) national broadcasting services; and
(C) narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) services; and
(D) datacasting services; and
(E) digital radio broadcasting services; and
(F) restricted datacasting services; and
(G) any service described in a LAP, DCP or DRCP; and
(ii) the relevant guidelines will be sufficiently complied with;
then ACMA will allocate a test transmission licence;
Note The licensee must comply with all relevant guidelines at the new location. ACMA may request the licensee or authorised person to submit supplementary information to demonstrate compliance with relevant requirements included in these guidelines.
(d) the licensee or an authorised person may then conduct test transmissions in accordance with the terms of the test transmission licence;
Note Relevant guidelines from Parts 1 and 7 will be attached to the test transmission licence.
(e) the licensee or an authorised person shall then provide to ACMA the results of the test transmissions including any interference assessment reports and details of any complaints of interference received during the conduct of the tests, together with a completed application form seeking a variation of the transmitter licence;
(f) if ACMA is satisfied that:
(i) the results of the tests demonstrate that operation from the alternative site will not cause interference to existing services provided by radiocommunications licensees, including:
(A) broadcasting services; and
(B) national broadcasting services; and
(C) narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) services; and
(D) datacasting services; and
(E) digital radio broadcasting services; and
(F) restricted datacasting services; and
(G) any service described in a LAP, DCP or DRCP; and
(ii) all other relevant requirements of these guidelines will be complied with upon commencement of transmissions from the new site;
then ACMA will vary the conditions attaching to the transmitter licence.
16. Interference assessment reports and documentation of any relevant EMC calculations are to be made available on request to ACMA. Information on interference assessment investigations shall also be provided on request to any person claiming to be adversely affected due to interference as a result of the operation of the licensee’s transmitter during the period of the test transmissions.
Part 3 AM radio
Application of Part 3
17. This Part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an AM radio broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz band of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Location of transmitter site
18. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.
Cymomotive Force (CMF)
19. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the CMF of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum CMF specified in the LAP.
20. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the CMF of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Note 1 Guideline 20 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.
Note 2 The maximum CMF is defined in terms of an envelope specification for all azimuth angles in the horizontal plane. CMF limits may also be specified in the vertical plane where this is necessary to limit skywave interference to other AM radio services.
Minimum level of service requirements
21. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the CMF of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the CMF of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the CMF of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP.
Note ACMA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. ACMA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.
22. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum CMF requirements specified in guideline 21.
23. For the purpose of application of guideline 22, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median ground wave field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
Maximum field strength within the licence area
24. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population of the licence area reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 1000 mV/m.
Note Guideline 24 deals with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the AM radio receiver.
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area
25. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median ground wave field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:
(a) the level that would be received if the transmitter was operating from the nominal location; or
(b) 2.5 mV/m.
26. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median ground wave field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed 2.5 mV/m unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.
Interference to other services
27. If the operation of a transmitter causes interference to an AM radio service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to eliminate or minimise the interference.
28. For the purpose of application of guideline 27, an AM radio service will be afforded protection against interference if:
(a) operating within the terms of the relevant LAP or transmitter licence conditions, as appropriate; and
(b) is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
(c) is being received with median ground wave field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
29. In addition to guidelines 27 and 28 (which relate to AM radio services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee’s AM radio broadcasting service.
30. A licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference in areas where the received field strength exceeds 1000 mV/m.
Note ACMA is obliged to plan for AM broadcasting services in accordance with the Final Acts of the Regional Administrative LF/MF Broadcasting Conference (Regions 1 and 3) Geneva, 1975. Additional or alternative requirements necessary for compliance with the Geneva 75 Plan will be reflected in the LAP or technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Radiated signal characteristics
31. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Amplitude Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service (see Appendix 1).
Part 4 FM radio
Application of Part 4
32. This Part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an FM radio broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 87.5 to 108 MHz band of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Location of transmitter site
33. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related icence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.
Required field strength between adjacent frequencies
34. If:
(a) a transmitter (the first transmitter) is not sited at the nominal location; and
(b) the frequency specified in the LAP for the transmitter is separated by 800 kHz from a frequency specified for use by another transmitter at the nominal location of the first transmitter;
then, unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, the licensee must ensure that the difference in received field strength between signals from the transmitters does not exceed 24 dB in any urban centre or locality that is within the licence area of either service.
Effective radiated power
36. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.
37. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Note Guideline 37 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.
Minimum level of service requirements
38. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the ERP of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.
Note ACMA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. ACMA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.
39. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum ERP requirements specified in guideline 38.
40. For the purpose of application of guideline 39, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
Maximum antenna height
41. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground does not exceed the maximum height specified in the LAP.
42. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Note Guideline 42 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.
43. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above Australian Height Datum does not exceed the maximum antenna height above Australian Height Datum at the nominal location permitted by the LAP.
Note The LAP specifies the maximum antenna height above ground at the nominal location. To determine the equivalent antenna height above Australian Height Datum, the maximum antenna height specified in the LAP must be added to the height above Australian Height Datum of the nominal location.
Maximum field strength within the licence area
44. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population of the licence area reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.
45. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population of the licence area resides in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.
Note 1 Guidelines 44 and 45 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the FM radio receiver.
Note 2 Subject to guidelines 41 to 43, the height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 44 and 45.
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area
46. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:
(a) the level that would be received if the transmitter was operating from the nominal location; or
(b) 54 dBmV/m.
47. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed 54 dBmV/m unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.
Interference to other services
48. If the operation of a transmitter causes interference to an FM radio service, analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to eliminate or minimise the interference.
49. For the purpose of application of guideline 48, an FM radio service, analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service will be afforded protection against interference if:
(a) operating within the terms of the relevant LAP, DCP (or approved implementation plan) or transmitter licence conditions, as appropriate; and
(b) is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area, narrowcasting service area or datacasting service area, as applicable; and
(c) is being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
50. In addition to guidelines 48 and 49 (which relate to FM radio services, analog television services, digital television services and datacasting services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee’s FM radio broadcasting service.
Radiated signal characteristics
51. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Frequency Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service (see Appendix 2).
Part 5 Analog television
Application of Part 5
53. This Part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an analog television broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 45 to 52 MHz, 56 to 70 MHz, 85 to 108 MHz, 137 to 144 MHz, 174 to 230 MHz, or 520 to 820 MHz bands of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Location of transmitter site
54. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.
Note The transmitter should desirably be located so that, for a particular broadcasting band, viewers within population centres of the licence area of the service are able to receive all television services licensed to serve that area by means of a single outdoor antenna appropriate for that band.
Effective radiated power
56. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.
57. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Note Guideline 57 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.
Minimum level of service requirements
58. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the ERP of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.
Note ACMA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. ACMA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.
59. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum ERP requirements specified in guideline 58.
60. For the purpose of application of guideline 59, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength given in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1: Planned minimum field strength figures for analog television
(50% of locations, 50% of the time, measured at 10 metres above ground level – see guideline 9)
| TV Transmission Band | Frequency Range (MHz) | Planned Minimum Field Strength (dBµV/m) |
| I | 45 ‑ 70 | 50 |
| II | 85 ‑ 108 | 50 |
| III | 137 ‑ 230 | 50 |
| IV | 520 ‑ 582 | 62 |
| V | 582 ‑ 820 | 67 |
Maximum antenna height
61. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground does not exceed the maximum height specified in the LAP.
62. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.
Note Guideline 62 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.
63. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above Australian Height Datum does not exceed the maximum antenna height above Australian Height Datum at the nominal location permitted by the LAP.
Note The LAP specifies the maximum antenna height above ground at the nominal location. To calculate the equivalent antenna height above Australian Height Datum, the maximum antenna height specified in the LAP must be added to the height above Australian Height Datum of the nominal location.
Maximum field strength within the licence area
64. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.
65. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.
Note 1 Guidelines 64 and 65 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the analog television receiver.
Note 2 Subject to guidelines 61 to 63, the height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 64 and 65.
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area
66. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:
(a) the level that would be received if the transmitter was operating from the nominal location; or
(b) the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 5.1.
67. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 5.1 unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.
Interference to other services
68. A licensee of an analog television broadcasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to an analog television service that is:
(a) operating within the terms of the relevant LAP or transmitter licence conditions, as appropriate; and
(b) being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
(c) being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
69. For the purpose of application of guideline 68, it is assumed that analog television services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the analog reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the analog reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the analog reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the analog reference television receiving system.
70. For the purpose of application of guideline 68 to co‑channel interference, unacceptable interference means degradation in the ratio of wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of an analog reference television receiving system, of 2 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co‑channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 40 dB or less.
71. A licensee of an analog television broadcasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to a digital television service or a datacasting service that:
(a) commenced operation prior to that analog service; and
(b) is operating within the terms of the relevant DCP (or approved implementation plan) or datacasting transmitter licence, as appropriate; and
(c) is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or datacasting service area, as applicable; and
(d) is being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
72. For the purpose of application of guideline 71, it is assumed that digital television services or datacasting services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the digital reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the digital reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the digital reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the digital reference television receiving system.
73. For the purpose of application of guideline 71 to co‑channel interference, unacceptable interference means degradation in the ratio of the wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of a digital reference television receiving system, of 1 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co‑channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 3 dB or less.
74. If the operation of a transmitter causes unacceptable interference to an analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to reduce the interference to a level that is no longer unacceptable interference.
75. In addition to the conditions of guidelines 68 to 74 (which relate to analog television services, digital television services and datacasting services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other services provided by radiocommunications licensees where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee’s analog television broadcasting service.
76. Where the same set of analog television services can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the sets of services, but not necessarily all of the sets of the same services, is protected against interference from the unwanted service. Similarly, where multiple transmissions of the same analog television service can be received from a single transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least a UHF transmission is protected against interference from the unwanted service.
77. Where the same digital television service or datacasting service can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the signals is protected against interference from the unwanted service.
Radiated signal characteristics
78. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Analog Terrestrial Television Service (see Appendix 3).
Part 6 Digital television
Application of Part 6
79. This Part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupying a channel in the 174 to 230 MHz, or 520 to 820 MHz bands of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Location of transmitter site
80. Unless otherwise specified in the technical specifications of the DCP (or approved implementation plan), the transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence or within the datacasting service area of the datacasting service, whichever is applicable.
Note The transmitter should desirably be located so that, for a particular broadcasting band, viewers within population centres of the licence area or datacasting service area are able to receive all television services licensed to serve that area by means of a single outdoor antenna appropriate for that band.
Effective radiated power
81. If a transmitter intended to serve a particular area is not sited at the nominal location, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction from the alternative site shall not exceed that specified for the nominal location in the DCP.
Note 1 Guideline 81 does not preclude a licensee from making an application to vary a DCP where operation at higher ERP levels is required.
Note 2 Guideline 106 deals with the situation where a licensee proposes to operate transmitters additional to those included in a DCP.
Minimum level of service requirements
82. Under the policy objectives given in paragraph 6 (3) (f) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act, ‘… as soon as is practicable after the start of the simulcast period for a licence area, and throughout the remainder of that period, the transmission of a commercial television broadcasting service in SDTV digital mode in that area should achieve the same level of coverage and potential reception quality as is achieved by the transmission of that service in analog mode in that area’. The DCPs provide the ERP levels expected to meet this objective, and where applicable, any ERP restrictions that need to be applied to protect specified analog television services from interference.
83. After the simulcast period mentioned in guideline 82, transmitters providing digital television broadcasting services (i.e. not datacasting services) which operate from a site, or sites, other than the nominal location(s) specified in the DCP shall at least provide a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area of the related licence that would have received a service from a transmitter (or transmitters) operating from the nominal location(s).
84. For the purpose of application of guideline 83, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength given in Table 6.1.
Note No Minimum Level of Service Requirements are applicable to datacasting services. However, protection of a datacasting service against interference from other services will only be provided on the basis that the datacasting service provides a median field strength equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
Table 6.1: Planned minimum field strength figures for digital television
(50% of locations, 50% of the time, measured at 10 metres above ground level – see guideline 9)
| TV Transmission Band | Frequency Range (MHz) | Planned Minimum Field Strength (dBµV/m) |
| III | 174 ‑ 230 | 44 |
| IV | 520 ‑ 582 | 50 |
| V | 582 ‑ 820 | 54 |
85. In applying guidelines 82, 83 and 84, changes to sites or operating parameters of transmitters after the simulcast period should not cause a reduction in the level of service that was being provided during the simulcast period.
Maximum field strength within the licence area or datacasting service area
86. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.
87. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.
Note 1 Guidelines 86 and 87 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the digital television receiver.
Note 2 The height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 86 and 87.
Maximum field strength beyond the licence area or datacasting service area
88. If a broadcasting transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the broadcasting licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:
(a) the level that would be received if the transmitter was operating from the nominal location; or
(b) the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 6.1.
89. If there is no technical specification specified in a DCP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 6.1 unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.
89A. In the case of datacasting services guidelines 88 and 89 do not apply, but transmitters intended to serve a particular datacasting service area must be located within the datacasting service area boundary.
89B. Except where a datacasting service is provided in accordance with a technical specification included in a DCP, where a datacasting licensee provides signals that extend beyond a datacasting service area boundary, coverage beyond the datacasting service area boundary is only permitted on a ‘no interference, no protection from interference’ basis.
Interference to other services
90. A licensee of a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to an analog television service that is:
(a) operating within the terms of the relevant LAP or transmitter licence conditions, as appropriate; and
(b) being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
(c) being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.
91. For the purpose of application of guideline 90, it is assumed that analog television services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the analog reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the analog reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the analog reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the analog reference television receiving system.
92. For the purpose of application of guideline 90 to co‑channel interference, unacceptable interference means degradation in the ratio of the wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of an analog reference television receiving system, of 2 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co‑channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 41 dB or less.
93. For the purpose of application of guideline 90 to adjacent channel interference, unacceptable interference means that the digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupies a channel that is adjacent to an analog television service and the relative level of the unwanted digital signal is more than 5 dB above the level of the wanted analog signal when measured at the receiver input terminal of an analog reference television receiving system. This value applies equally for upper or lower adjacent channel combinations.
94. Practical application of guideline 93 should take account of variable factors affecting the relative levels of the received adjacent channel transmissions. To account for variable factors including multipath effects, frequency dependent differences in receive and transmit antenna patterns and antenna gain across the channels an allowance of 5 dB shall be applied (i.e. a ratio of wanted to unwanted signals of 0 dB).
Note Where wanted and unwanted signals emanate from the same antenna, this condition can be readily interpreted as a power ratio of the two signals applied to the antenna. However, where the wanted and unwanted signals emanate from different antennas a more complex calculation is needed. It is necessary to calculate the wanted and unwanted field strength levels at all locations where the wanted service can be received with a median field strength higher than the planned minimum field strength. The field strength predictions will need to take account of the following factors: ERP of both services; location and site height of both sites; effective antenna height of both antennas; horizontal and vertical radiation patterns of the antennas at both sites; polarisation of both transmissions; a terrain model that covers the area of interest; if available, that model should include information about the clutter layer above the basic terrain; and, an appropriate propagation model.
94A. For the purpose of application of guideline 90 to image channel interference, unacceptable interference means that the digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupies a channel that is 10 or 11 channels above an analog television service and the relative level of the unwanted digital signal is more than 18 dB above the level of the wanted analog signal when measured at the receiver input terminal of an analog reference television receiving system.
Emission standard for the Australian Amplitude Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service
The AM emission standard is based on the Draft Emission Standard for the Australian Amplitude Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service published by the former Department of Transport and Communications in 1992.
The standard follows international practice with provision for stereophonic program transmission based on the C‑QUAM system.
The emission standard details the channel assignments for the AM radio broadcasting service, program signal characteristics for mono and stereo transmission and the radiated signal characteristics of the AM transmission.
Emission standard for the Australian FM Sound Broadcasting Service
The FM radio emission standard is based on the Emission Standard for the Australian Frequency Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service determined by the Minister for Transport and Communications pursuant to s.125D of the Broadcasting Act 1942, and published by the former Department of Transport and Communications in July 1992.
The emission standard covers the radiated signal characteristics of the transmission, nominal channel assignments for the FM radio broadcasting service, main program signal characteristics for both mono and stereo transmission, and includes requirements for ancillary communications services carried as subcarriers on the main FM carrier.
Emission standard for the Australian Analog Terrestrial Television Service
The analog television emission standard is based on the Emission Standard for the Australian Terrestrial Television Service determined by the Minister of Transport and Communications pursuant to section 125D of the Broadcasting Act 1942, and published by the former Department of Transport and Communications in March 1989.
The emission standard details the channelling arrangements for the analog television service as well as the video, vision and sound signal characteristics of the transmission.
The emission standard does not include the standard for teletext services provided in conjunction with the television transmission.
TPGs and Planning handbooks
Because they are legally binding, the TPGs include only the mandatory requirements to be met by broadcasters in planning and operating new transmission facilities, or in seeking changes to existing facilities. Supporting information on suitable analog planning and measurement methods is contained separately in Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting (TPPs), first published by the Department of Transport and Communications in June 1992.
The TPGs and TPPs were included as Parts 1 and 2 respectively of the Interim Australian Broadcasting Planning Handbook until December 2000, when the Handbook was superseded. The TPGs and TPPs are now included in the Broadcasting Planning Manual (BPM) – a new publication which brings together all planning related documents, as well as additional reference material, in to a single publication. Copies of the TPGs, TPPs and other documents that form part of the Broadcasting Planning Manual are available from the ACMA website ( TPPs are based on broadcasting planning parameters and methods of measurement defined in Recommendations and Reports of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as well as planning practices developed in Australia, North America, Europe and Britain over many years.
The TPPs are intended for broadcasters, planning consultants and operators of broadcasting facilities involved in detailed design of broadcasting transmitting facilities or in the preparation of planning submissions to ACMA.
The planning values and methods set out in the TPPs are generally consistent with international practice. Alternative method(s) may be used but facilities planners would need to be in a position to demonstrate that the alternative method(s) yield results comparable with those set out in the TPPs.
In respect of such alternative method(s), which may include various computer based prediction models, system designers need to be aware that no model is an exact replication of real propagation phenomena. The type of terrain and other variable factors make some models better in some circumstances than others, and the probabilistic nature of radio frequency propagation requires statistical methods of prediction. The methods set out in the TPPs represent accepted international practice and include statistical allowances based on many years and many different field measurements of propagation in different parts of the world.
For planning of digital television and datacasting services, the information contained in the TPPs is also supplemented by the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook. This Handbook is also available from the ACMA website.
The basic planning principles for digital radio are similar to those used in planning for FM radio and television broadcasting services. Parameters specific to digital radio are drawn from widely recognised international sources including the ITU and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as well as ACMA and Australian industry measurements. ACMA may publish material relating to digital radio planning in the future. Any digital radio planning material published by ACMA will be made available on the ACMA website.
Relationship between the TPGs, FAP, LAPs, the Broadcasting Services Act and the Radiocommunications Act
Technical planning guidelines
The Broadcasting Services Act requires ACMA to develop technical planning guidelines (TPGs) for the technical planning of individual services that use the broadcasting services bands as a means of delivery. The TPGs set out the mandatory requirements that are to be met by licensees when completing the detailed planning of broadcasting transmitting facilities, and are to be read in conjunction with the technical specifications contained in the LAP.
The TPGs may also be applied to national broadcasting transmitters and to narrowcasting services that use the broadcasting services bands, through Licence Conditions Determinations or special conditions attached to transmitter licences issued under the powers contained in the Radiocommunications Act.
Frequency allotment plan
The Frequency Allotment Plan (FAP) determines the number of channels that are to be available in particular areas of Australia to provide broadcasting services using the broadcasting services bands. The FAP identifies the capacity that is to be available for AM radio, FM radio and VHF/UHF television services and digital radio.
The FAP apportions broadcasting services bands in particular parts of Australia to accommodate existing and future radio and television services. The FAP was determined by the ABA in August 1994, following wide public consultation, and is varied from time to time.
Licence area plans
A LAP details the number and characteristics of the broadcasting services that are to be made available within particular areas of Australia. The characteristics of each service include the service’s licence area, category, carrier frequency(s), transmitter site(s) and technical conditions, including maximum effective radiated power in each direction from the transmitter site.
If there are changes to the number of available channels arising from the determination of a LAP, the relevant FAP is varied to reflect those changes.
The determination of a LAP follows wide public consultation and is based on the preparation of a draft LAP to allow comment by affected communities, as well as broadcasters and other interested parties, before finalisation.
How to obtain a broadcasting service licence and the relevant transmitter licence
For commercial and community broadcasting services, completion of the LAP process for an area makes capacity available for new broadcasting services. The LAP will describe the type of services to be made available and the technical specifications applicable to those services.
ACMA will advertise the availability of spectrum capacity and invite applications for a broadcasting service licence. For new commercial broadcasting services, ACMA will conduct a price based allocation process to determine which applicant(s) are to be granted the licence(s) on offer. For new community broadcasting services, ACMA will invite applications and will conduct a merit‑based allocation process to determine which of the applicants will be granted a licence.
With the issue of a broadcasting service licence comes an entitlement to a radiocommunications apparatus licence (i.e. transmitter licence) to operate the broadcasting transmission facilities to provide the service.
For more information about applying for a transmitter licence for new commercial or community broadcasting services, please refer to the ACMA web site (
Alternative uses of the broadcasting services bands
Where planned spectrum capacity is not used for broadcasting services, that capacity may be made available for alternative uses, such as open narrowcasting. Allocation of rights to use the available spectrum capacity may entail a price based allocation process similar to that used for allocation of commercial broadcasting service licences.
The TPGs may be applied to transmitter licences for these services as a condition of the transmitter licence, in addition to the licensed technical specification for the service.
Annex A Explanatory notes related to digital television
Minimum level of service requirements
The DCPs specify the ERP levels expected to meet the ‘same level of coverage’ objectives given in paragraph 6 (3) (f) of Schedule 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act. However, some DCPs include channel allotments with directional ERP restrictions on some services that apply until certain analog television services cease transmission. Notwithstanding the legislative requirement, these limits may mean, in some instances, that it will not be practicable to achieve the same coverage goal until the concerned analog transmission ceases.
Maximum antenna height requirements
The digital television section does not include guidelines relating to maximum antenna height. The guidelines relating to maximum field strength beyond the licence area or datacasting service area, minimum level of service and not causing interference to other services more directly address ACMA’s concerns than would a restriction on antenna height.
A nominal antenna height specification is included in the technical specifications associated with the DCP for information. This nominal height is used by ACMA in performing interference predictions as part of its channel planning process.
Adjacent channel and SFN operation
Planning for digital television and datacasting services has made use of adjacent channel operation (either between two adjacent digital services, or between a digital service and an adjacent analog service) on the assumptions that: the adjacent channel transmissions are effectively co‑sited; and the ratio of adjacent channel ERP levels is constrained to be within an appropriate range.
When applying the guidelines related to adjacent channel interference, account should be taken of variable factors affecting the relative levels of received adjacent channel transmissions, such as differences in transmitter radiation patterns (in both the horizontal and vertical planes), frequency dependency of receiving antenna system performance and differences in the actual transmission sites. Until better information is available, a value of 5 dB has been applied to the basic protection ratio values.
Where additional transmission sites are proposed, it may prove difficult to satisfy the necessary adjacent channel protection requirements in cases where transmitters are not effectively co‑sited, and/or in cases where widely different ERP levels are used by the adjacent channel services.
Recognising this constraint, guideline 96 has been written to ensure that digital services operating in accordance with the DCP are protected.
In the particular case of potential adjacent channel interference between two digital services where one, or both, of the proposed digital services is not included in a DCP, it may be possible to satisfy the adjacent channel interference conditions through negotiation between the operators of the adjacent channel services. The required end result is that, in each area where adjacent channel interference could arise, the transmitters providing the adjacent channel services should be effectively co‑sited and their relative ERP levels should be co‑ordinated to ensure that the conditions of Part 6 of the Technical Planning Guidelines covering adjacent channel interference are satisfied.
Where digital licensees wish to locate transmitters at sites that are significantly separated from planned LAP, DCP or DRCP sites, where the effective co‑siting assumption does not hold[4], viewers may face a situation where they are trying to receive a distant, low level signal in the presence of a high level interfering signal from a nearby transmitter. This places a much greater onus on the digital licensee at the non‑DCP site to carefully plan and engineer the site to ensure that the required protection ratios are achieved and interference to nearby receivers is avoided. This is most important when a digital service is adjacent to a wanted analog service. However, other potential interference mechanisms also need to be considered.
[4] For example, this may occur if a channel B datacasting licensee wishes to establish large numbers of additional sites to achieve a good level of mobile TV coverage.
The interference mechanism of next greatest concern is image channel interference from a digital service to analog television reception. Image channel interference is an artefact of superheterodyne television receiver design[5]. It may occur if a high level signal exists on a channel that is 10 or 11 channels above the wanted channel[6]. The susceptibility of receivers to image channel interference is dependent on the design of the radio frequency input stages of the receiver. Available information on wanted‑to‑unwanted image channel protection ratios is that a digital image channel causing interference to an analog television service will usually present a higher interference risk than a first adjacent channel digital‑to‑digital case.
[5] In 2007 all, or nearly all, consumer analog and digital receivers used superheterodyne receiver architectures.
[6] Australian standard analog receivers use a local oscillator frequency that is 36.875 MHz above the wanted vision carrier frequency. In this case most of the potential image channel interference is generated by signals in the channel that is 10 channels above the wanted channel. However in the Australian market there are significant numbers of non-standard receivers that use a local oscillator frequency that is 38.9 MHz above the wanted vision carrier frequency. In that case most of the potential image channel interference is generated by signals in the channel that is 11 channels above the wanted channel.
After co‑channel, first adjacent channel and image channel interference, other potential interference mechanisms (eg. second adjacent channel interference) are less important and are also possibly subject to greater variation between different receiver makes and models. Therefore specific limits for those potential interference mechanisms have not been specified. However, if the ratio of unwanted signal to wanted signal is high enough, interference management issues may still arise. The requirement for interference management in these cases is captured by the general onus on licensees not to cause interference and to resolve interference problems if they occur (see paragraphs 13 (e) to (g) and guidelines 128 to 130) rather than in specific guidelines within Part 6.
Levels of allowable interference
Whenever any new service is added into an existing service arrangement there will be some increase, even if it is very small, in the interference received by the existing services. In assessing whether the general objective that ‘there should be no noticeable increase in interference to other services’ is satisfied, in terms of practical engineering, the task is to set guidelines that ensure that any increase in interference is constrained to a level that would not adversely impact on existing services. These guidelines have quantified the amounts of interference that would be allowable for the cases of (i) interference to analog television services, and (ii) interference to digital television services. The signal degradation characteristics of analog and digital television systems have been taken into account in determining these limits.
No attempt has been made to quantify levels of interference that would be allowable for other licensed radiocommunication services (including broadcasting services other than analog and digital television). Unlike television‑to‑television interference mechanisms where the characteristics of the device potentially suffering interference can be fairly readily defined, potential interference mechanisms between television and services other than television are much less amenable to detailed specification because the range and characteristics of the devices that could potentially suffer interference is large and diverse. This problem is particularly complex when potential interference mechanisms between services operating in different bands of the radiocommunication spectrum are considered. The current interference management process, which is complaints based and prefaced on the incoming service resolving any interference to existing services, appears to have worked adequately without the need for inclusion of such detailed definitions within the TPGs.
For analog television where the ratio of wanted to unwanted (digital) signals is 41 dB or lower, a degradation of no more than 2 dB in the co‑channel carrier‑to‑noise ratio measured at the receiver input terminals has been permitted. This 2 dB degradation value is based on the interfering signal causing no more than 0.5 grades of degradation on a 5‑grade impairment scale. The basis for this is that the human perception descriptors applicable to impairments to planned television reception (grade 5 – imperceptible; grade 4 – perceptible, but not annoying; grade 3 – slightly annoying) are fairly closely spaced and it seems reasonable to assume that defining a 0.5 grade change as an allowance for interference will not be perceived as having a noticeable impact on the level of interference to the signal. The relationship between subjective impairment gradings and carrier‑to‑noise (or unweighted video‑signal‑to‑noise) ratio is given in texts such as ITU‑R Recommendation BT.654 or Hutson, G.H. – Colour Television: system principles, engineering practice, and applied technology, 2nd Ed, McGraw Hill 1990.
For digital television where the received co‑channel carrier‑to‑noise‑plus‑interference ratio is 20 dB or lower, a degradation of no more than 1 dB in the carrier‑to‑noise ratio measured at the receiver input terminals has been permitted. This 1 dB degradation value was suggested in the report of the sub‑group on ‘same level of coverage and potential reception quality’ (Appendix B of Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook). The allowable value for digital television was chosen to be more stringent than for the comparable analog case. This was done in recognition of the concern that viewers in a marginal reception situation for a digital service could suffer a complete loss of service with a small increase in interference whereas in a marginal analog reception situation a slight increase in interference would cause a slight increase in visible and/or audible noise.
Measurement and assessment of interference
The interference ratio limits discussed above specify levels that are measured at the input terminals of a reference receiver. While this definition is closely tied to the receiver performance degradation due to interference, it does present difficulties in relating these values to field strength measurements.
Field strength measurements can be subject to considerable variability. Even when measured at 10 metres above ground, the field strength may vary considerably with small changes in location or frequency; this is particularly so if the environment is subject to clutter. Field strength measurements can also be subject to short term and seasonal time variations. Variations in the field strengths of wanted and interfering signals will not necessarily be well correlated. Ideally, to obtain reliable and repeatable results it would be necessary to perform a large set of wanted and interfering signal field strength measurements. Notwithstanding time and cost considerations, in many situations terrain or access considerations would make this difficult or impractical. Experienced field strength surveyors may, however, be able to select representative sites where clutter and other confounding effects are minimised and where reproducible results can be obtained from a limited number of field strength measurements.
Calculated field strength predictions do not suffer the variability of measured field strength values. However, as with any mathematical or empirical model, the accuracy of predicted field strength values depends on how well the prediction model represents the real situation. Predicted field strength values can be a convenient method by which to assess claims about potential interference but their use should be tempered by knowledge of how well the prediction model fits the actual situation. Predictions can be used with greatest confidence where they are supported by field strength measurements from nearby areas.
In the final analysis judgements may need to be made based on the combination of data that is available. This could include whatever field strength measurements are available, comparative measurements made when the suspected interfering source is cycled on and off, or reduced in power by a known number of dB, and field strength prediction calculations for wanted and unwanted signals (especially where these predictions have been validated by field measurements in nearby areas). It is noted that while cycling of power of suspected digital interference sources could be a very useful technique for investigation of interference during the start up period, it may be more difficult to apply this technique for high power digital services once they commence normal operation.
Notes to the Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007
Note 1
The Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007 (in force under section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Table of Instruments
| Title | Date of FRLI registration | Date of | Application, saving or |
| Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007 | 9 Aug 2007 (see F2007L02469) | 10 Aug 2007 | |
| Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Amendment Guidelines 2009 (No. 1) | 6 May 2009 (see F2009L01623) | 7 May 2009 | — |
Table of Amendments
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| Guidelines | |
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| Appendix 6 | |
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