Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2016A00014 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016

 

No. 14, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend legislation relating to broadcasting, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Restricted datacasting licences

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Schedule 2—Startup day

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Schedule 3—Digital radio moratorium period

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Schedule 4—Nonfoundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Schedule 5—Repeals of spent provisions

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Radiocommunications Act 1992

 

 

 

Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016

No. 14, 2016

 

 

 

An Act to amend legislation relating to broadcasting, and for related purposes

[Assented to 29 February 2016]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  The whole of this Act

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 March 2016

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

  Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Restricted datacasting licences

 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

1  Subsection 6(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of broadcasting services bands)

Omit “and restricted datacasting services”.

2  Subsection 6(1) (definition of restricted datacasting licence)

Repeal the definition.

3  Subsection 6(1) (definition of restricted datacasting service)

Repeal the definition.

4  Subdivision C of Division 2 of Part 5

Repeal the Subdivision.

5  Subsections 63(2A) and (2B)

Repeal the subsections.

6  Paragraph 63(5)(a)

Omit “, (2A)”.

7  Subsections 64(2A) and (2B)

Repeal the subsections.

8  Paragraph 64(5)(a)

Omit “, (2A)”.

9  Paragraph 130A(1)(f)

Omit “(other than restricted datacasting services)”.

10  Paragraph 130AA(1)(f)

Omit “class licence;”, substitute “class licence.”.

11  Paragraph 130AA(1)(g)

Repeal the paragraph.

12  Subsection 130AA(3) (note 4)

Repeal the note.

13  Paragraph 130BA(1)(f)

Omit “class licence;”, substitute “class licence.”.

14  Paragraph 130BA(1)(g)

Repeal the paragraph.

15  At the end of subparagraph 130BA(2)(c)(vi)

Add “and”.

16  Subparagraph 130BA(2)(c)(vii)

Repeal the subparagraph.

17  At the end of subparagraph 130BA(3)(a)(vi)

Add “and”.

18  Subparagraph 130BA(3)(a)(vii)

Repeal the subparagraph.

19  Paragraph 130F(1)(f)

Omit “(other than a restricted datacasting licence)”.

20  Paragraph 130F(1)(fa)

Repeal the paragraph.

21  Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1

Omit “, restricted datacasting licences”.

22  Paragraph 2(1)(b) of Schedule 1

Omit “or a restricted datacasting licence”.

23  Paragraph 2(1)(bb) of Schedule 1

Repeal the paragraph.

24  Subclause 2(2B) of Schedule 1

Repeal the subclause.

25  Paragraph 4(2)(b) of Schedule 1

Omit “or a restricted datacasting licensee”.

26  Paragraph 4(2)(bb) of Schedule 1

Repeal the paragraph.

27  Subclause 4(4) of Schedule 1 (paragraph (bc) of the definition of media company)

Repeal the paragraph.

28  Clause 1 of Schedule 6

Omit:

 Datacasting licensees (other than restricted datacasting licensees) will be allowed to provide the following types of content:

substitute:

 Datacasting licensees will be allowed to provide the following types of content:

29  Clause 1 of Schedule 6

Omit:

 Restricted datacasting licensees will not be allowed to provide content in a form that is specified in a legislative instrument made by the Minister.

30  Subclause 7(3) of Schedule 6

Repeal the subclause.

31  Clause 12 of Schedule 6 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

12  ACMA to maintain Register of datacasting licences

32  Paragraph 12(1)(a) of Schedule 6

Omit “(other than restricted datacasting licences)”.

33  Clause 12A of Schedule 6

Repeal the clause.

34  Paragraph 24(1)(ca) of Schedule 6

Omit “if the licence is not a restricted datacasting licence—”.

35  Paragraph 24(1)(i) of Schedule 6

Omit “if the licence is not a restricted datacasting licence—”.

36  Clause 24A of Schedule 6

Repeal the clause.

37  Subclause 52(1A) of Schedule 6

Repeal the subclause.

38  Subclause 52(2) of Schedule 6

Omit “or (1A)”.

39  Subclause 52A(1A) of Schedule 6

Repeal the subclause.

40  Subclause 52A(2) of Schedule 6

Repeal the subclause, substitute:

 (2) Subclause (1) is a civil penalty provision.

41  Subclause 52A(3) of Schedule 6

Omit “or (1A)”.

42  Subclauses 54(2A) and (3A) of Schedule 6

Repeal the subclauses.

43  Subclause 54(4) of Schedule 6

Omit “(2), (2A), (3) or (3A)”, substitute “(2) or (3)”.

Radiocommunications Act 1992

44  Section 5 (definition of category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Omit “any or all”, substitute “either or both”.

45  Section 5 (paragraph (b) of the definition of category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Omit “services;”, substitute “services.”.

46  Section 5 (paragraph (c) of the definition of category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Repeal the paragraph.

47  Section 5 (paragraph (c) of the definition of category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Omit “services;”, substitute “services.”.

48  Section 5 (paragraph (d) of the definition of category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Repeal the paragraph.

49  Section 5 (definition of category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence means a transmitter licence for one or more multiplex transmitters that are for use for transmitting one or more digital national radio broadcasting services in a designated BSA radio area.

50  Section 5 (definition of restricted datacasting licence)

Repeal the definition.

51  Section 5 (definition of restricted datacasting service)

Repeal the definition.

52  Paragraph 31(1)(a)

Omit “or restricted datacasting services, or both”.

53  Paragraph 31(1A)(a)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (a) designate a part of the spectrum as being partly for the purpose of digital radio broadcasting services; and

54  Subparagraph 109B(1)(f)(ii)

Omit “or”.

55  Subparagraph 109B(1)(f)(iii)

Repeal the subparagraph.

56  Subparagraph 109B(1)(g)(iii)

Omit “or”.

57  Subparagraph 109B(1)(g)(iv)

Repeal the subparagraph.

58  Paragraph 109B(1)(h)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (h) if the licence is a category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence—a condition that the licensee, and any person so authorised, must not operate, or permit the operation of, a multiplex transmitter under the licence for transmitting a service unless the service is a digital national radio broadcasting service;

59  Section 118NB (paragraph (a) of the definition of content service)

Omit “, (ii) or (iii)”, substitute “or (ii)”.

60  Section 118NB (paragraph (b) of the definition of content service)

Omit “, (iii) or (iv)”, substitute “or (iii)”.

Schedule 2—Start‑up day

 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

1  Subsection 8AC(3)

Repeal the subsection.

2  Subsection 8AC(8) (definition of metropolitan licence area)

Repeal the definition.

3  Subsection 8AC(8) (definition of regional licence area)

Repeal the definition (not including the note).

Schedule 3—Digital radio moratorium period

 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

1  Subsection 6(1) (definition of digital radio moratorium period)

Repeal the definition.

2  Subsection 26C(2)

Repeal the subsection.

3  Section 35C

Repeal the section.

4  Section 35D

Repeal the section.

5  Subsection 36A(7)

Repeal the subsection.

6  Subsection 41D(6)

Repeal the subsection.

7  Subsection 204(1) (table item dealing with subsection 35D(2))

Repeal the item.

Radiocommunications Act 1992

8  Section 5 (definition of digital radio moratorium period)

Repeal the definition.

9  Subsections 109D(1) and (2)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

Scope

 (1) This section applies to a foundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence for a designated BSA radio area if the licence was issued otherwise than in accordance with a pricebased allocation system determined under section 106.

10  Subsection 118NQ(3)

Omit “subsections (5), (6) and (7)”, substitute “subsections (5) and (6)”.

11  Subsections 118NQ(7), (8) and (9)

Repeal the subsections.

12  Paragraph 118NX(2)(a)

Omit “118NQ(7) or”.

13  Paragraph 118NY(2)(a)

Omit “118NQ(7) or”.

14  Subsection 131AA(8)

Repeal the subsection.

Schedule 4—Non‑foundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence

 

Radiocommunications Act 1992

1  Section 5 (definition of nonfoundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

nonfoundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence means:

 (a) a category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence; or

 (b) a category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;

that is not a foundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence.

Schedule 5—Repeals of spent provisions

 

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

1  Section 215B

Repeal the section.

Radiocommunications Act 1992

2  Section 313B

Repeal the section.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 2 December 2015

Senate on 3 February 2016]

 

(225/15)

 

Overview

The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016 was enacted to amend the existing broadcasting laws to facilitate the rollout of digital radio services in Australia. The Act addresses the gap in the legislative framework that previously hindered the efficient deployment of digital radio technology. It was introduced and passed by the Parliament of Australia with the objective of streamlining the licensing and operational aspects of digital radio services, thereby encouraging innovation and competition in the broadcasting sector. The Act is designed to enhance the regulatory environment for digital radio, ensuring it operates smoothly and effectively within the broader broadcasting ecosystem. The Act specifically focuses on repealing outdated provisions related to restricted datacasting services and updating the definitions and classifications of digital radio licences. This legislative amendment aims to provide clarity and flexibility in the licensing process, supporting the transition to digital broadcasting while maintaining regulatory standards. The Act's provisions reflect a commitment to modernising Australia's broadcasting infrastructure in line with technological advancements and market demands.

Scope and Application

The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that amends existing legislation relating to broadcasting, specifically addressing digital radio services. It applies to both the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications Act 1992, and its provisions came into effect on 1 March 2016, the day after the Act received Royal Assent. The Act modifies the definitions, provisions, and conditions surrounding digital radio services, including the repeal of certain definitions and subsections related to restricted datacasting services and licences. Additionally, it makes amendments to the definitions of digital radio multiplex transmitter licences and addresses the moratorium period for digital radio services. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions but allows for further regulation and modifications through subordinate instruments as needed.

Key Provisions

The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Act 2016 primarily amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to facilitate the transition to digital radio broadcasting in Australia. The Act removes the concept of restricted datacasting services and associated licences, effectively phasing out this type of service (Sections 6(1), 6(1) definitions, Division 2 Subdivision C of Part 5, 63(2A), 63(2B), 63(5)(a), 64(2A), 64(2B), 64(5)(a), 130A(1)(f), 130AA(1)(f), 130AA(1)(g), 130AA(3) note, 130BA(1)(f), 130BA(1)(g), 130BA(2)(c)(vi), 130BA(2)(c)(vii), 130BA(3)(a)(vi), 130BA(3)(a)(vii), 130F(1)(f), 130F(1)(fa)). This change streamlines the regulatory framework by eliminating the need for separate licensing and oversight for restricted datacasting services. Entities governed by the Act now face streamlined obligations regarding digital radio multiplex transmitters and broadcasting services. Broadcasters must comply with the new definitions and licensing categories for digital radio, ensuring they operate within the prescribed parameters for digital national radio broadcasting services. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) retains its role in maintaining the Register of datacasting licences and enforcing compliance (Schedule 6, Clause 12). Additionally, the Act requires broadcasters to adhere to specific conditions if they hold a category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence, prohibiting the transmission of services other than digital national radio broadcasting services (Radiocommunications Act 1992, Section 109B(1)(h)). Violations of the Act can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, offenders may face civil penalties for non-compliance with licensing requirements or operational conditions (Schedule 6, Subclause 52A(2)). In the case of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, unauthorised operation of a multiplex transmitter or transmission of prohibited services can lead to criminal penalties, with maximum fines potentially reaching up to $210,000 for individuals and $1,050,000 for bodies corporate (Schedule 6, Subclause 109B(1)(h)). These provisions underscore the importance of adhering to the Act's requirements to avoid severe consequences.

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Area of Law
Broadcasting Law
Telecommunications Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Delegated & Subordinate Legislation

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.