Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2015 (Cth)
Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2015
made under subsection 132 (1) of the
Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Compilation No. 1
Compilation date: 8 April 2017
Includes amendments up to: F2017L00401
Prepared by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Melbourne
Name of Class Licence
This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2015.
Commencement
This Class Licence commences on the later of:
(a) the day of its gazettal; or
(b) the day after it is registered.
Note 1 All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See 2 Both of the events specified at paragraphs (a) and (b) must occur before the Class Licence can commence.
Revocation
The Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002 [F2005B00236] is revoked.
Definitions
(1) In this Class Licence:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
CB repeater station means a station:
(a) operating at a fixed location for the reception and automatic re‑transmission of radio signals from CB stations on a channel mentioned in item 5 or 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) operated under an apparatus licence.
CB station or citizen band radio station means a station operating on a channel mentioned in Schedule 1.
device compliance day, for a CB station, means the most recent of the following days:
(a) if the CB station was manufactured in Australia — the day it was manufactured;
(b) if the CB station was manufactured overseas and imported — the day it was imported;
(c) if the CB station was altered or modified in a material respect — the day it was altered or modified.
F3E means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a frequency modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information.
G3E means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a phase modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information.
lower sideband, or LSB, means an SSB radio emission for which the sideband above the carrier is suppressed.
telecommunications network has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.
upper sideband, or USB, means an SSB radio emission for which the sideband below the carrier is suppressed.
Note For definitions of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Act, the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993 and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2015.
(2) In this Class Licence, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to another legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time.
Note 1 For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.
Note 2 All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are available on the ComLaw website at type="1">
Class Licence
(1) Subject to sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 a person may operate a CB station of a kind to which subsection (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies.
(2) This subsection applies to a CB station that directly transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2, 3 or 7 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(3) This subsection applies to a CB station that, through a CB repeater station, transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(4) This subsection applies to a CB station that transmits data to communicate with another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 6 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(5) This subsection applies to a CB station that transmits signals that identify the CB station or indicate the geographic location of the CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 6, 7 or 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(6) This subsection applies to a CB station that:
(a) directly transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(i)on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4 in Schedule 1; and
(ii)subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item; or
(b) through a CB repeater station, transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(i) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1; and
(ii)subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item; or
(c) transmits signals that identify the CB station or indicate the geographic location of the CB station:
(i)on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4 or 5 in Schedule 1; and
(ii)subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
Conditions — general
A person must not:
(a) except in an emergency — operate a CB station on:
(i) carrier frequency 27.065 megahertz (HF channel 9); or
(ii)carrier frequency 476.525 megahertz (UHF channel 5) ; or
(iii)carrier frequency 477.275 megahertz (UHF channel 35); or
Note In an emergency mentioned in subsection 49(1) of the Act, if a carrier frequency mentioned in this paragraph is not accessible, it is preferable that a carrier frequency mentioned in paragraph (b) should be used.
(b) except to initiate contact with another CB station — operate a CB station on:
(i) carrier frequency 27.085 megahertz (HF channel 11); or
(ii)carrier frequency 27.155 megahertz (HF channel 16); or
(iii)carrier frequency 476.675 megahertz (UHF channel 11); or
(c) use with a transmitter device that encrypts speech transmission in transmitting:
(i)a radio signal on a carrier frequency that is referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or
(ii) through a CB repeater station; or
(d) make an alteration to a CB station, or to accessory apparatus used in the operation of a CB station, that is likely to cause interference to radiocommunications, except:
(i)in accordance with a direction given under subparagraph 9(2)(a)(i); or
(ii)with the consent in writing of an inspector who is reasonably satisfied that the alteration has been made to test the operation of the CB station; or
(e) operate a CB station to transmit on a carrier frequency mentioned in an item in Schedule 1 if the transmission will cause harmful interference to the operation of any other CB station on that carrier frequency; or
(f) operate a CB station:
(i)in a way that would be likely to cause a reasonable person, justifiably in all the circumstances, to be seriously alarmed or seriously affronted; or
(ii)for the purpose of harassing a person; or
(g) fail to comply with a direction given under section 9; or
(h) operate a CB station to transmit speech on channels 22 (476.950 MHz) or 23 (476.975 MHz); or
(j) operate a CB station to transmit signals that identify a CB station or indicate its geographic location with a duty cycle of more than 10 seconds in any period of 60 minutes;
(k) operate a CB station to transmit on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of Schedule 1 within 70 kilometres distance from the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory if the transmission will cause interference with the operation of radio astronomy observations by the observatory.
Note The Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory is situated at latitude 26.704167 South, longitude 116.658889 East (GDA94).
Operating a CB station to transmit audio tones
A person, when operating a CB station to transmit audio tones for initiating communications with another CB station, must:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 1, only transmit audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
(b) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4, 5, 7 or 8 of Schedule 1, only transmit:
(i)audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
(ii)subaudible tones.
Note Subaudible tones are used in continuous tone coded squelch systems (CTCSS).
Condition relating to a CB station that operates through a CB repeater station
A person must not, except for the purpose of transmitting to a CB repeater station, operate a CB station on a channel mentioned in item 5 or 8 in Schedule 1 within the operational range of a CB repeater station.
Directions
(1) A person must comply with a direction that:
(a) relates to the operation of a CB station by the person; and
(b) is given to the person by a person referred to in subsection (3); and
(c) is described in subsection (4).
(2) A person must comply with a direction that:
(a) relates to interference to radiocommunications that:
(i)is likely to be caused by the alteration, installation or maintenance of a CB station, or of accessory apparatus for use with a CB station, by the person; or
(ii)is, or is likely to be, caused by the operation of a CB station by the person; and
(b) is given to the person in writing by an inspector.
(3) For paragraph (1) (b), a direction may be given by any of the following persons acting in the performance of their duties:
(a) a member of the Australian Federal Police;
(b) a member of the police force of a State or Territory;
(c) an officer of the Defence Force;
(d) an officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority who is employed in the Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre;
(e) an officer mentioned in Schedule 2 to the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.
(4) A direction that is referred to in subsection (1) must be reasonably necessary to:
(a) secure the safety of an aircraft or a vessel that is in danger; or
(b) deal with an emergency that involves a serious threat to the environment; or
(c) deal with an emergency that involves the risk of death of, or injury to, a person; or
(d) deal with an emergency that involves the risk of substantial damage to, or substantial loss of, property.
Condition relating to applicable standards for a CB station
A person must not operate a CB station unless the CB station complies with each standard made under section 162 of the Act that:
(a) applies to the CB station; and
(b) is in force on the device compliance day.
Condition relating to a CB station connected to a telecommunications network
A person must not operate a CB station that is connected to a telecommunications network unless the CB station complies with:
(i)the Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2015; or
(ii)the Radiocommunications (Compliance Labelling – Devices) Notice 2014,
whichever applies to the CB station.
Schedule 1 CB station operational requirements
(sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Part 1 HF
Item
Channel
Carrier Frequency (megahertz)
Restriction
1 11 27.085 Operation of a CB station must only employ AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz. 2 16 27.155 Operation of a CB station must only employ SSB modulation using:
(a) LSB; and
(b) a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX; and
(c) a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.
3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26.965
26.975
26.985
27.005
27.015
27.025
27.035
27.055
27.065
27.075
27.105
27.115
27.125
27.135
27.165
27.175
27.185
27.205
27.215
27.225
27.255
27.235
Operation of a CB station must only employ:
(a) AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz; or
(b) SSB modulation using USB or LSB with a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.
3 (cont) 25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
27.245
27.265
27.275
27.285
27.295
27.305
27.315
27.325
27.335
27.345
27.355
27.365
27.375
27.385
27.395
27.405
Part 2 UHF — 25 kHz channels
Item
Channel
Carrier Frequency (megahertz)
Restriction
4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
476.4250
476.4500
476.4750
476.5000
476.5250
476.5500
476.5750
476.6000
476.6250
476.6500
476.6750
476.7000
476.7250
476.7500
476.7750
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.
(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channels 5 or 35.
(c) Communication with another CB station is not authorised on channels 1-8 and channels 31-38 within operational range of a CB repeater station.
4 (cont) 16
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
476.8000
476.8250
476.8500
476.8750
476.9000
476.9250
477.0000
477.0250
477.0500
477.0750
477.1000
477.1250
477.1500
477.1750
477.2000
477.2250
477.2500
477.2750
477.3000
477.3250
477.3500
477.3750
477.4000
5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
476.4250
476.4500
476.4750
476.5000
476.5250
476.5500
476.5750
476.6000
477.1750
477.2000
477.2250
477.2500
477.2750
477.3000
477.3250
477.3500
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.
(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channel 35.
Note Channels 1-8 are for the automatic re-transmission of radio signals from CB stations. Channels 31-38 are for the reception of radio signals from CB stations.
6 22
23
476.950
476.975
A transmitter employed in a CB station:
(a) must operate with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts; and
(b) must not exceed an EIRP of 8.3 watts; and
(c) must operate with an occupied bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz; and
(d) must not exceed a carrier frequency error of ±3 kHz; and
(e) must not exceed an adjacent channel power of –22 dBm; and
(f) must not exceed a conducted spurious emission of –30 dBm; and
(g) must operate on a duty cycle of not
more than 10 seconds in any period of 60 minutes; and(h) must be fitted with a device that shuts the transmitter down after 3 minutes of continuous operation.
A receiver employed in a CB station must operate with a conducted spurious emission not exceeding –57 dBm.
Note The use of single frequency store and forward repeaters is permitted.
Part 3 UHF — 12.5 kHz channels
Item
Channel
Carrier Frequency (megahertz)
Restriction
7
7 (cont)
7 (cont)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
476.4250
476.4500
476.4750
476.5000
476.5250
476.5500
476.5750
476.6000
476.6250
476.6500
476.6750
476.7000
476.7250
476.7500
476.7750
476.8000
476.8250
476.8500
476.8750
476.9000
476.9250
477.0000
477.0250
477.0500
477.0750
477.1000
477.1250
477.1500
477.1750
477.2000
477.2250
477.2500
477.2750
477.3000
477.3250
477.3500
477.3750
477.4000
476.4375
476.4625
476.4875
476.5125
476.5375
476.5625
476.5875
476.6125
476.6375
476.6625
476.6875
476.7125
476.7375
476.7625
476.7875
476.8125
476.8375
476.8625
476.8875
476.9125
477.0125
477.0375
477.0625
477.0875
477.1125
477.1375
477.1625
477.1875
477.2125
477.2375
477.2625
477.2875
477.3125
477.3375
477.3625
477.3875
477.4125
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 10.1 kHz.
(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channels 5 or 35.
(c) Communication with another CB station is not authorised on channels 1-8, channels 31-38, channels 41-48 and channels 71-78 within operational range of a CB repeater station.
Note Channels 61, 62 and 63 are reserved for future allocation and transmission on these channels is not permitted under this Class Licence.
8 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
476.4250
476.4500
476.4750
476.5000
476.5250
476.5500
476.5750
476.6000
477.1750
477.2000
477.2250
477.2500
477.2750
477.3000
477.3250
477.3500
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 10.1 kHz.
(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channel 35.
Note Channels 1-8 and 41-48 are for the automatic re-transmission of radio signals from CB stations. Channels 31-38 and 71-78 are for the reception of radio signals from CB stations.
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
476.4375
476.4625
476.4875
476.5125
476.5375
476.5625
476.5875
476.6125
477.1875
477.2125
477.2375
477.2625
477.2875
477.3125
477.3375
477.3625
Endnotes
Endnote 1 – About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
Endnote 2 (Abbreviation key) sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Endnote 3 (Legislation history) provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
Endnote 4 (Amendment history) provides information about the amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level and includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
It also includes information about any misdescribed amendment (that is, an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made). If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history. If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted am = amended rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Name Registration or Notification in Gazette Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2015 23 June 2015
(F2015L00876)
24 June 2015 Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2017 (No. 1) 7 April 2017
(F2017L00401)
8 April 2017 Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected Subsection 4(1) am. No. 1 of 2017 Subsection 5(1) am. No. 1 of 2017 Schedule 1, Item 5 rs. No.1 of 2017 Schedule 1, Item 8 rs. No.1 of 2017
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