Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1)

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

Legislation au F2021L00543 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1)

made under subsections 130B(1) and (7) of the

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 24 June 2021

Registered: 24 June 2021

This compilation only includes an editorial change

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1) that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 24 June 2021 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self-repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

1  Name

  This is the Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1).

2  Commencement

  This instrument commences on the later of the following:

(a)    at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation; or

(b)    on the commencement of Schedule 9 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020.

Note: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under subsections 130B (1) and 130B (7) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

4  Amendments

  The instrument specified in Schedule 1 is amended as set out in the applicable items in that Schedule.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Technical Standard 2020 (F2020L01182)

1  Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

digital mode means broadcast or transmitted using a digital modulation technique.

domestic digital television receiver means domestic reception equipment that:

 (a) is not a handheld device; and

 (b) is capable of receiving television programs broadcast or transmitted in:

 (i) SDTV digital mode; or

 (ii) HDTV digital mode.

2  Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

HDTV digital mode means broadcast or transmitted in digital mode in a high definition format.

3  Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

SDTV digital mode means broadcast or transmitted in digital mode in a standard definition format.

4  Subsection 5(1) (paragraph (c) of the note to the definition of program classification information)

Omit service;, substitute service.

5  Subsection 5(1), (paragraph (d) of the note to the definition of program classification information)

Repeal the paragraph.

6  After subsection 5(2)

Add:

 (3) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of domestic digital television receiver in subsection (1), disregard clause 6 of Schedule 6 to the Act.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 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.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment 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

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1)

5 May 2021 (F2021L00543)

17 June 2021 (s 2)

 

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 2.....................

ed C1

 

Endnote 5—Editorial changes

In preparing this compilation for registration, the following kinds of editorial change(s) were made under the Legislation Act 2003.

Paragraph 2(b)

Kind of editorial change

Update to a reference of a law or a provision

Details of editorial change

This compilation was editorially changed to update a reference from the Radiocommunications (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 in paragraph 2(b).

 

Overview

The Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1), made under subsections 130B(1) and (7) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, was enacted to amend the Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Technical Standard 2020. This amendment addresses the technical specifications necessary to enhance the functionality of parental locks on digital television receivers, ensuring they are more effective in filtering out content that may not be suitable for children. The instrument was registered on 5 May 2021 and commenced on 17 June 2021, aligning with the commencement of relevant reforms under the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020. This legislative instrument was produced by the Commonwealth of Australia and aims to update and refine the technical standards for parental locks to better cater to the evolving digital broadcasting environment.

Scope and Application

The Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1) is a legislative instrument made under subsections 130B(1) and 130B(7) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. This amendment technical standard applies to broadcasters and providers of television services in Australia, particularly those who are subject to the existing Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Technical Standard 2020. It modifies and updates the technical standard concerning parental lock features on digital television receivers, ensuring they are consistent with technological advancements in broadcasting. The standard is designed to enhance the capability of parental controls on domestic digital television receivers, which include devices capable of receiving television programs in both standard definition (SDTV) and high definition (HDTV) digital modes. The amendments to the standard include new definitions for terms such as "digital mode," "domestic digital television receiver," "SDTV digital mode," and "HDTV digital mode," as well as adjustments to the note definitions related to program classification information. This instrument commenced on the later of the day after its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation or the commencement of Schedule 9 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020, as specified in the commencement clause. The scope of the amendments is limited to the technical specifications outlined in the standard itself, and any broader application or interpretation of the legislative intent is governed by the underlying Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

Key Provisions

The Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1) amends the existing Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Technical Standard 2020. Section 2 of the Amendment Technical Standard specifies that it commences on the later of either the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation or the commencement of Schedule 9 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020. This instrument is made under subsections 130B(1) and 130B(7) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, which allows for the creation of technical standards to regulate the broadcasting services within Australia. The Amendment Technical Standard imposes several obligations on broadcasters and equipment manufacturers. Broadcasters must ensure that television programs are appropriately classified according to their content, and equipment manufacturers must design and manufacture domestic digital television receivers with the capability to implement parental lock features. These features must comply with the technical standards set forth in the Act, ensuring that viewers can restrict access to programs based on their classification. Broadcasters and equipment manufacturers must also ensure that their services and products adhere to the updated definitions and technical requirements specified in the Amendment Technical Standard. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and its associated technical standards may result in various consequences. For broadcasters, non-compliance could lead to fines, penalties, or other enforcement actions taken by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). For equipment manufacturers, non-compliance might result in their products being deemed non-compliant and potentially being subject to recalls, fines, or other enforcement actions. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Act may vary depending on the specific breach and the circumstances surrounding it, but they can include substantial fines and, in some cases, imprisonment for individuals found guilty of serious or repeated breaches. In summary, the Broadcasting Services (Parental Lock) Amendment Technical Standard 2021 (No.1) updates the technical requirements for broadcasters and equipment manufacturers to ensure that television programs are appropriately classified and that domestic digital television receivers are equipped with parental lock features. Broadcasters and equipment manufacturers must adhere to these updated requirements to avoid potential penalties and enforcement actions.

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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.