Commonwealth of Australia
AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY
Notice under subsection 136(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992
NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSAL TO VARY THE RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS (CITIZEN BAND RADIO STATIONS) CLASS LICENCE 2025 BY MAKING THE DRAFT RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS (CITIZEN BAND RADIO STATIONS) CLASS LICENCE VARIATION 2026 (No. 1)
Notice is given under subsection 136(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act) that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) proposes to vary the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2025 (CB class licence) by making the draft Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2026 (No. 1) (the draft Instrument) under subsection 132(1) of the Act and subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Proposed changes
The CB class licence authorises persons to operate citizen band radio stations on shared frequencies, provided they meet the conditions set out in the class licence. The conditions in the class licence deal with both technical and operational matters. The CB class licence is available from the Federal Register of Legislation at www.legislation.gov.au.
In proposing to make the draft Instrument, the ACMA wishes to make 3 minor changes in the CB class licence.
The specific changes are:
the removal of Note 3 in subsection 7(1) of the CB class licence;
the replacement of the restrictions specified in table items 1 and 2 in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the CB class licence with the restrictions specified in table item 3;
the replacement of the text ‘sub-items 29 to 71’ with ‘sub-items 56 to 71’ in table item 6 in Part 3 of Schedule 1.
The first and second changes are required to authorise the use of frequency modulation in the high frequency (HF) band and remove reference to an historical requirement to initiate contact on 3 specific channels (HF channels 11 and 16 and ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 11). The third change corrects a typographical error so that the table item numbers referred to are the UHF CB repeater channels 31-38 and 71-78.
Further information
A copy of the draft Instrument and information explaining the proposed changes are available on the ACMA’s website (www.acma.gov.au). Hardcopies may be obtained from the ACMA by contacting:
The Manager
Spectrum Licensing Policy
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112
Law Courts
Melbourne VIC 8010
Telephone: (03) 9963 6785
Email: SLPSConsultations@acma.gov.au
Comments
Under subsection 136(1) of the Act, the ACMA is seeking representations about the proposal to make the draft Instrument to vary the CB class licence.
Interested persons are invited to make representations about the proposed variation no later than Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Representations should be in writing and should be addressed to:
The Manager
Spectrum Licensing Policy
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112
Law Courts
Melbourne VIC 8010
or by email to:
SLPSConsultations@acma.gov.au