Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1)

Administered by Department of Communications and the Arts

Legislation au F2005B00214 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1)

The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY makes this Determination under paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

Dated    12 November 2003

R HORTON                                                                                                              Chair

A HORSLEY                                                                                                          Deputy Chair

 

Australian Communications Authority

1 Name of Determination

  This Determination is the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

  This Determination commences on gazettal.

3 Amendment of Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997

  Schedule 1 amends the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997.

Schedule 1 Amendments

(section 3)

Do not delete: Schedule Part Placeholder

[1] Subsection 3 (1), after definition of repeater output

insert

Sydney Area means the geographic area described by a circle with a radius of 270 kilometres whose centre is located at the Sydney General Post Office, 130 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, being latitude 33 52 14 south, longitude 151 12 26 east.

Note   The Sydney Area may also be referenced by means of the Australian Map Grid coordinates according to which the Sydney General Post Office is located at Australian Map Grid coordinates of Zone 56, Easting 334188, Northing 6250750.

[2] Section 13

substitute

13 Permitted frequency bands

  The licensee must operate an amateur unrestricted station to transmit only on a frequency that:

 (a) is in a frequency band mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1 of Schedule 2; and

 (b) is not in an excluded frequency range specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 for the area of operation.

[3] Section 18

substitute

18 Permitted frequency bands

  The licensee must operate an amateur limited station to transmit only on a frequency that:

 (a) is in a frequency band mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1 of Schedule 3; and

 (b) is not in an excluded frequency range specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 for the area of operation.

[4] Section 31

substitute

31 Permitted frequency bands

  The licensee must operate an amateur intermediate station to transmit only on a frequency that:

 (a) is in a frequency band mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 1 of Schedule 6; and

 (b) is not in an excluded frequency range specified in Part 2 of Schedule 6 for the area of operation.

[5] Schedule 2, after the Schedule heading

insert

Part 1 Permitted frequencies and emission modes

[6] Schedule 2, column 4

omit

[7] Schedule 2, item 5, column 2

omit

75.500 GHz–81.000 GHz

119.980 GHz–120.020 GHz

142.000 GHz–149.000 GHz

insert

76.000 GHz–81.000 GHz

122.250 GHz–123.000 GHz

134.000 GHz–141.000 GHz

[8] Schedule 2, after the table

insert

Part 2 Excluded frequency ranges

Area

Excluded frequency range

Perth Area

420 MHz–430 MHz

New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory

 (a) 421.83125–421.99375 MHz; and

 (b) 425.25625–425.59375 MHz; and

 (c) 428.83125–428.99375 MHz

Sydney Area

 (a) 421.25–421.75 MHz; and

 (b) 428.25–428.75 MHz

[9] Schedule 3, after the Schedule heading

insert

Part 1 Permitted frequencies

[10] Schedule 3, column 3

omit

[11] Schedule 3, item 3, column 2

omit

75.500 GHz–81.000 GHz

119.980 GHz–120.020 GHz

142.000 GHz–149.000 GHz

insert

76.000 GHz–81.000 GHz

122.250 GHz–123.000 GHz

134.000 GHz–141.000 GHz

[12] Schedule 3, after the table

insert

Part 2 Excluded frequency ranges

Area

Excluded frequency range

Perth Area

420 MHz–430 MHz

New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory

 (a) 421.83125–421.99375 MHz; and

 (b) 425.25625–425.59375 MHz; and

 (c) 428.83125–428.99375 MHz

Sydney Area

 (a) 421.25–421.75 MHz; and

 (b) 428.25–428.75 MHz

[13] Schedule 6, after the Schedule heading

insert

Part 1 Permitted frequencies and emission modes

[14] Schedule 6, column 4

omit

[15] Schedule 6, item 5, column 2

omit

75.500 GHz–81.000 GHz

119.980 GHz–120.020 GHz

142.000 GHz–149.000 GHz

insert

76.000 GHz–81.000 GHz

122.250 GHz–123.000 GHz

134.000 GHz–141.000 GHz

[16] Schedule 6, after the table

insert

Part 2 Excluded frequency ranges

Area

Excluded frequency range

Perth Area

420 MHz–430 MHz

New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory

 (a) 421.83125–421.99375 MHz; and

 (b) 425.25625–425.59375 MHz; and

 (c) 428.83125–428.99375 MHz

Sydney Area

 (a) 421.25–421.75 MHz; and

 (b) 428.25–428.75 MHz

 

Overview

The Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1) was made by the Australian Communications Authority under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to amend the conditions of amateur radio licences in Australia. This amendment was necessary to address the need for updating the frequency bands and exclusions applicable to amateur radio operations to ensure efficient use of the radio spectrum and to avoid interference with other services. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the quality of radiocommunication services by ensuring that amateur radio operators comply with the most current regulatory requirements. The Determination modifies the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997 by updating the permitted and excluded frequency bands for different classes of amateur radio stations, including unrestricted, limited, and intermediate stations. The changes include the introduction of specific geographic areas, such as Sydney and Perth, with designated excluded frequency ranges to mitigate potential conflicts with other radio services. The amendment also refines the frequency bands for transmission, ensuring that amateur radio operations align with current technical and regulatory standards.

Scope and Application

The Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1) amends the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997, which pertains to amateur radio operators in Australia. The amendment applies to individuals or entities holding an amateur radio licence as defined by the Radiocommunications Act 1992, with a specific focus on the permissible frequency bands and emission modes for operating amateur unrestricted, limited, and intermediate stations. The geographic scope of this legislation is national, with specific exclusions for certain frequency ranges in defined areas such as Perth, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Sydney Area. This Determination, which commences upon gazettal, allows for further specification of licence conditions through subordinate instruments, thereby extending or restricting its application as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Amendment Determination 2003 (No. 1) primarily amends the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997. The key amendments include modifications to the definition of the Sydney Area (Schedule 1, [1]), and changes to the permitted frequency bands for amateur unrestricted, limited, and intermediate stations (Schedule 1, [2], [3], [4]). The amendment also specifies new permitted frequencies and emission modes in Schedules 2, 3, and 6, and introduces excluded frequency ranges for certain areas (Schedule 1, [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]). Under the amended legislation, amateur radio operators must adhere to the specified frequency bands and emission modes as detailed in the new schedules. These changes ensure that amateur radio operations comply with the latest radiocommunications regulations. Specifically, operators of amateur unrestricted, limited, and intermediate stations must now transmit only on the frequencies listed in the respective parts of Schedules 2, 3, and 6, while avoiding the excluded frequency ranges for their specific operational area. Failure to comply with the amended conditions may result in legal consequences. While the Determination does not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, under which this Determination is made, can result in significant penalties. For example, contravening the radiocommunications licence conditions can lead to fines of up to $52,500 for individuals and higher for corporations, as well as potential imprisonment. The Australian Communications Authority has the authority to enforce these provisions, ensuring that all amateur radio operations adhere to the stipulated conditions.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Telecommunications Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Permitted frequency bands
Excluded frequency ranges

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