ACMA changes radio services

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has approved variations to radio licence area plans (LAPs) that will make new frequencies available or amend existing technical specifications at Apollo Bay, Lorne and Bright, Vic; Mount Isa, Qld; and Nhulunbuy, NT.

The changes apply to Colac Radio (Colac LAP), Mount Isa Radio (Mount Isa LAP), Nhulunbuy Radio (Nhulunbuy LAP) and Wangaratta Radio (Wangaratta LAP).

At Apollo Bay, the Colac LAP will be varied to change the FM frequency (from 99.1 to 88.7 MHz) and transmitter site, lower the maximum power level (from 250 W to 100 W) and change the radiation pattern of the existing community radio broadcasting service 3OCR’s in-fill transmitter.

In addition, the transmitter site of 3OCR’s in-fill transmitter at Lorne will be varied. These changes will improve the 3OCR service by reducing interference and will reflect the current operating conditions of the service.

At Bright, the Wangaratta LAP will be varied to make the FM frequency 92.9 MHz available for an in-fill transmitter with a maximum power level of 50 W for the existing Mount Beauty community radio broadcasting service 3VKV. This existing transmitter will allow for coverage of the 3VKV licence area.

At Mount Isa, the Mount Isa LAP will be varied to make frequency 104.9 MHz available for a new ABC Parliamentary News Network/News Radio (PNN) national broadcasting service.

At Nhulunbuy, the Nhulunbuy LAP will be varied to increase the power level (from 100 to 500 W) of the existing community radio broadcasting service 8EAR. These changes will improve coverage of the 8EAR licence area.

The ACMA will also redefine the licence areas to reflect 2006 census data, but they will otherwise remain unchanged.

These proposed changes are contained in the:

• Variation to Licence Area Plan - Colac Radio - No. 1 of 2013
• Variation to Licence Area Plan - Mount Isa Radio - No. 1 of 2013
• Variation to Licence Area Plan - Nhulunbuy Radio - No. 1 of 2013
• Variation to Licence Area Plan - Wangaratta Radio - No. 1 of 2013

These documents are also available by calling 1300 850 115.

More information on the ACMA’s broadcast planning process and LAPs can be found at the ACMA website.