Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment)

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Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment) 1991 No. 346

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Statutory Rules 1991 No. 346

Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment)

Issued by the Authority of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications for and on behalf of the Minister for Transport and Communications

Subsection 93(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1983 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Section 24 of the Act provides that the Minister may grant to an applicant a licence to operate and to possess specified radiocommunications transmitters or radiocommunications transmitters included in a class of radiocommunications transmitters.

Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to operate, or possess for the purpose of operation, a radiocommunications transmitter without a licence.

Section 22 of the Act provides that for the purposes of the Act, "radiocommunications transmitter" does not include a transmitter included in a prescribed class of transmitters. In other words, 'prescribed transmitters' are exempt from the licensing provisions of the Act.

Details of the amendments to the Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (the Regulations) are as follows:

Regulation 2 - Regulation 2 (Interpretation)

Subregulation 2(1) of the Regulations provides for definitions of expressions used in the Regulations.

During the preparation of the amending regulations, it was discovered that the definitions of 'multipoint distribution station receiver, Class A' and 'multipoint distribution station receiver, Class B', which should have been removed consequential to amendments to the Regulations made by Statutory Rules 1987 No. 276, were not removed. Amending regulation 2 omits these definitions.

Regulation 3 - Regulation 2A (Prescribed associations or bodies for the purposes of sub-section 9(11) of the Act)

Section 9 of the Act provides that the Minister may make standards for radiocommunications devices. Subsection 9(11) of the Act provides that standards may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any matter contained

in a standard proposed or approved by a prescribed association or body, as in force or existing at a particular time.

Regulation 2A of the Regulations previously prescribed, inter alia, the Australian Telecommunications Commission (Telecom) for the purposes of subsection 9(11) of the Act. With the establishment of AUSTEL under the Telecommunications Act 1991, Telecom no longer has a standard-making power - this now rests with AUSTEL. Amending regulation 3 amends regulation 2A to omit "Australian Telecommunications Commission" and substitute it with "AUSTEL".

Also, it is proposed to make standards under section 9 adopting standards, relating to electromagnetic interference, made by the following European community and related international bodies:

the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC):

the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) CISPR is a semi-autonomous committee of the IEC;

the European Committee for Standardisation; and

the European Committee for Electro-technical Standardisation.

Amending regulation 3 also amends regulation 2A by including references to these bodies.

Regulation 4 - Regulation 6 (Prescribed classes of transmitters)

Paragraph 6(b) of the Regulations provides that, for the purposes of the definition of "radiocommunications transmitter" in section 22 of the Act, the classes of transmitters specified in Schedule 3 to the Regulations are prescribed. A new Schedule 3 is inserted by amending regulation 8.

Amending regulation 4.1 omits paragraph 6(b) from the Regulations and substitutes it with a new paragraph 6(b) to prescribe, for the purposes of section 22 of the Act, those transmitters described in the proposed new Schedule 3.

Regulation 5 - Regulation 7 (Declaration of receivers-Part VII of Act)

Section 38 of the Act provides for the licensing of radiocommunications receivers. Section 36 provides that "receiver" means a receiver declared by the regulations to be a receiver for the purposes of Part VII of the Act.

Paragraphs 7(k), (1), and (m) of the Regulations previously declared multipoint distribution station receivers (Class A), multipoint distribution station receivers (Class B) and narrowband area station receivers respectively for the purposes of section 36 of the Act -these types of receivers are used to receive Video and Audio Entertainment and Information Services (VAEIS). Experience with the regulation of VAEIS was that requiring the licensing of these types of receivers was akin to

requiring the licensing of conventional radio and television broadcasting receivers, with all the practical difficulties that come with such regulation.

It became apparent that the regulation of VAEIS can achieved be more efficiently through the licensing of VAEIS transmitters only. Therefore, it is was decided that those classes of receivers referred to in paragraphs 7(k), (1) and (m) no longer be required to be licensed. Amending regulation 5.2 omits paragraphs 7(k), (1) and (m) from the Regulations.

Amending regulation 5.1 is an amendment to regulation 7 which is consequential to amending regulation 5.2.

Clause 6 - Schedule 1

Item 66 in Schedule 1 to the Regulations previously specifies a class of licence known as 'multipoint distribution station' (MDS) -the licence fee of $22,299 for this class of licence was specified at Item 66 in the Schedule to the Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licences Tax) Regulations (the Licences Tax Regulations) made under the Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licences Tax) Act 1983. Services provided under that class of licence had to comply with the 'Frequency Band Plan for the 2076 to 2111 MHz and 2300 to 2400 MHz Bands' (the MDS Band Plan), Statutory Rules 1988 No.181, made under section 19 of the Act.

Subclause 4(1) of the MDS Band Plan sets out 5 categories into which MDS services transmitted on the relevant bands must fall. It was decided to replace item 66 in Schedule 1 to the Regulations with two new classes of licence:

(i) 'multipoint distribution station, Class A' which is comprised of those MDS services falling into categories 1 to 3 as set out in subclause 4(1) of the MDS Band Plan

- the licence fee for this new class is $11,150; and

(ii) 'multipoint distribution station, Class B' which is comprised of those MDS services falling into categories 4 and 5 as set out in subclause 4(1) of the MDS Band Plan

- the licence fee for this new class is $22,299.

Amending regulation 6.1 omitted item 66 from Schedule 1 and substituted it with a new item 66 which sets out a description of both of the new classes of licence. The licence fees for these new licence classes are prescribed in amendments to the Licences Tax Regulations which accompanied these amendments.

Clause 7 - Schedule 2A

Regulation 4A of the Regulations provides for the payment of fees in respect of tests on devices conducted by the Department under section 15A of the Act. Schedule 2A to the Regulations sets out the fees payable in relation to the testing of specified devices under section 15A of the Act.

It was decided to introduce a fee of $350 for the testing, under section 15A of the Act, of all devices to which Schedule 3 to the Regulations applies. Amending regulation

7.2 inserts new Item 11 which prescribes a fee of $350 for testing devices to which Schedule 3 applies.

As the devices referred to in Item 6 of Schedule 2A are included in Schedule 3, it was decided also to delete that Item. Amending regulation 7.1 omitted Item 6 from Schedule 2A.

Regulation 8 - Schedule 3

Schedule 3 to the Regulations prescribes classes of transmitters for the purposes of the definition of "radiocommunications transmitter" in section 22 of the Act, that is, classes of transmitters which are not subject to the licensing regime of the Act.

Schedule 3 identifies classes of transmitters by reference to the purpose for which the transmitters are operated as well as by reference to the permitted operating frequencies and power of those transmitters.

Schedule 3 was last amended in 1989. Since then, certain technological developments necessitated amendment to the Schedule. Amending regulation 8.1 omitted Schedule 3 and substituted it with a new Schedule 3.

Included in the new Schedule 3, at Items 1 to 17, are descriptions of transmitters by reference only to the permitted operating frequencies and field strength of those transmitters. This is intended to introduce greater flexibility in the application of the exemption from the licensing provisions of the Act and Regulations.

Overview

The Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment) 1991 No. 346 was enacted to address issues and gaps in the Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations resulting from legislative changes and technological advancements. The regulations were made under the authority of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications, acting on behalf of the Minister for Transport and Communications. The overarching policy objective of these amendments is to streamline and modernise the regulatory framework governing radiocommunications in Australia, ensuring it remains effective and relevant in light of recent changes in the telecommunications industry and technological developments. The amendments aim to correct oversights, update prescribed standards, and refine the classification of transmitters and associated fees, thereby enhancing the efficiency and practicality of the licensing regime. These amendments encompass several key areas, including the removal of outdated definitions, updating prescribed standards to reflect the current industry body responsible for standard-making, and modifying the classification and licensing of certain transmitters. The amendments also address the licensing of receivers for video and audio entertainment and information services, opting for a more efficient approach by licensing only the transmitters. Additionally, the amendments revise the fee structure for multipoint distribution station licences and introduce a new fee for testing devices, reflecting the evolving landscape of radiocommunications technology and services.

Scope and Application

The Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment) 1991 No. 346 amends the Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations to align with changes in the telecommunications landscape and technological advancements. The amendments apply to the licensing and operation of radiocommunications transmitters and receivers in Australia, ensuring that the regulatory framework remains effective and efficient. The Act applies to entities and individuals who operate or possess radiocommunications transmitters or receivers within Australia, and it is enforced by the Minister for Transport and Communications. Certain classes of transmitters are exempt from the licensing provisions, as specified in the amended Schedule 3 to the Regulations. The amendments also update the prescribed associations and bodies responsible for making standards for radiocommunications devices, replacing the Australian Telecommunications Commission with AUSTEL, and incorporating standards from international bodies such as the International Electro-technical Commission and the European Committee for Standardisation. Additionally, the amendments remove the requirement for licensing certain classes of receivers used for Video and Audio Entertainment and Information Services, focusing instead on licensing transmitters for these services. The new licence classes for multipoint distribution station services and the associated fees are also introduced, reflecting changes in service categories and their operational parameters.

Key Provisions

The Radiocommunications (Licensing and General) Regulations (Amendment) 1991 No. 346 primarily amends the existing regulations to better align them with current technological standards and practices. The main changes involve the removal of outdated definitions and the incorporation of new standards for radiocommunications devices. For instance, Regulation 2 corrects the omission of the definitions for'multipoint distribution station receiver, Class A' and'multipoint distribution station receiver, Class B' which were supposed to be removed in a previous amendment. Regulation 3 updates the prescribed associations or bodies for the purposes of adopting standards under subsection 9(11) of the Act, replacing the Australian Telecommunications Commission (Telecom) with AUSTEL and adding international bodies like the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and the European Committee for Standardisation. These amendments impose specific obligations on parties and entities governed by the Act. For example, Regulation 4 replaces the outdated prescribed classes of transmitters by incorporating a new Schedule 3, which now identifies transmitters solely by their operating frequencies and power levels. This change is intended to streamline the exemption process from the licensing regime. Regulation 5 addresses the licensing of certain types of receivers by removing the requirement to license multipoint distribution station receivers (Class A), multipoint distribution station receivers (Class B), and narrowband area station receivers, as their regulation can be more efficiently managed through the licensing of transmitters only. In terms of penalties and consequences for non-compliance, Section 23 of the Act makes it an offence to operate or possess a radiocommunications transmitter without a licence. The penalties for such offences are not explicitly detailed in the provided explanatory statement but typically could include fines and/or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach. Furthermore, Regulation 6 introduces new classes of licences with corresponding fees, replacing the previous 'multipoint distribution station' licence, and Regulation 7 updates the fees for device testing under section 15A of the Act, introducing a new fee of $350 for testing devices specified in Schedule 3. Failure to adhere to these updated licensing and fee structures could result in civil consequences such as fines or other administrative penalties.

Area of Law: Technology Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Licensing & Registration; Regulatory Standards; Enforcement Powers

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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.

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