Ministerial Standard 316

Overview

The Statutory Rule 1989 No. 26, issued under the authority of the Minister for Transport and Communications, amends the Radiocommunications Act 1983 by establishing technical standards for handphone stations designed to operate within the 27 MHz Handphone Service. The 1983 Act enabled the Minister to set standards for specified devices, including radiocommunications transmitters and receivers, to ensure the prevention of interference and the proper operation of these devices. Following a public consultation process that invited comments on a proposed standard published in the Gazette on 20 April 1988, the Minister signed the standard on 6 February 1989. This statutory rule aims to enhance the functionality and safety of handphone stations by specifying technical requirements such as performance, design, and operation parameters, ensuring they do not interfere with other radiocommunications services. The rule also includes provisions for compliance certificates and the restriction of access to adjustment mechanisms that could compromise device operation. The statutory rule introduces standards that address specific technical aspects of handphone stations, including transmitter and receiver capabilities. For transmitters, the rule sets parameters for emission modes, carrier frequencies, power limits, and modulation conditions to prevent interference and ensure reliable operation. For receivers, it limits spurious signals to maintain signal integrity. These standards are designed to facilitate the effective use of the radio spectrum while safeguarding against potential interference, aligning with the policy objectives outlined in the Radiocommunications Act 1983.

Scope and Application

This statutory rule applies to handphone stations designed or intended to operate in the 27 MHz Handphone Service and provides standards for the design, performance, and operation of these devices to ensure compliance with radiocommunications regulations. The standards cover both transmitters and receivers, setting specific parameters and limitations to prevent interference and ensure safe operation. Notably, the requirements of Parts 3 and 4 do not apply to handphone stations designed or intended to operate in services involving frequency assignments other than those specified in clause 9 of the standard. The rule mandates that once a device has been tested for compliance, details of the compliance statement certificate and type or model designation must be displayed on the device. Additionally, access to adjustment mechanisms that could permit operation contrary to the standard’s technical requirements must be restricted, and devices must operate within specified temperature and primary supply voltage ranges. The standards also outline maximum limits for carrier power, peak envelope power, amplitude modulation, out-of-band emissions, and spurious emissions for transmitters, as well as maximum limits for spurious signals from receivers. These standards extend to all devices across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring uniform compliance across the nation.

Key Provisions

The statutory rule establishes technical standards for handphone stations, specifically those designed to operate in the 27 MHz Handphone Service. These standards are intended to ensure that handphone stations function within specified parameters to prevent interference and ensure reliable communication. Clause 3(2) of the rule specifies that certain requirements do not apply to handphone stations designed for services involving frequency assignments other than those mentioned in clause 9. The obligations imposed by this Act include the requirement for handphone stations to be tested for compliance with the specified standards, as indicated in Clause 4. This entails that once a device is tested, the details of the compliance statement certificate and the type or model designation must be displayed on the device. Clause 5 mandates that access to adjustment mechanisms which could allow the device to operate contrary to the technical requirements must be restricted, ensuring that the device remains compliant under all circumstances. Furthermore, Clause 6 stipulates that devices must operate within a specified temperature and primary supply voltage range, ensuring they perform reliably under various conditions. There are no explicit provisions detailing offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of these standards within the provided text. However, the nature of statutory rules and the authority of the Minister for Transport and Communications suggest that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, which may include fines, recalls, or other regulatory measures. The absence of specific penalties in the provided text implies that further investigation into the Radiocommunications Act 1992 or related regulations would be necessary to understand the full scope of consequences for non-compliance.