Commonwealth of Australia

AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Notice under section 136 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992

NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSED REVOCATION OF RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS (MARITIME SHIP STATION – 27MHZ AND VHF) CLASS LICENCE 2001

Notice is given that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) proposes to revoke the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001 (the Class Licence) under section 132 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act) and in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

The ACMA proposes to revoke the Class Licence and issue a new class licence, the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station – 27MHz and VHF) 2015 (2015 Class Licence) under section 132 of the Act.

Proposed changes

The Class Licence authorises persons to operate 27 MHz and VHF radiocommunications equipment in shared maritime radiofrequency spectrum.

The Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (LIA) provides a regime for the automatic repeal of certain legislative instruments approximately 10 years after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. This process is referred to as sunsetting. To preserve the effect of an instrument, it will need to be remade prior to the sunset date. The purpose of sunsetting is to ensure that legislative instruments are kept up-to-date and only remain in force as long as they are needed (see section 49 of the LIA).

The Class Licence will sunset on 1 October 2015.

The ACMA is proposing to revoke the Class Licence and remake it in substantially the same form as the 2015 Class Licence, so that its on-going effect is preserved. The ACMA is also proposing to incorporate a new qualification, the Australian Waters Qualification (AWQ), within the 2015 Class Licence.

The AWQ is a qualification suitable for VHF marine radio operators (both recreational and commercial) who use marine VHF radio under the 2015 Class Licence for radiocommunications solely within Australian territorial waters and inland waterways. It is anticipated that the majority of operators attaining the AWQ will be recreational boaters.

Comments

Pursuant to section 136 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the ACMA is seeking representations about the proposed revocation of the existing Class Licence.

Copies of the Class Licence may be obtained at www.comlaw.gov.au or from the ACMA’s Melbourne Office by contacting:

Mick Owens

Spectrum Licensing Policy Section

Australian Communications and Media Authority

PO Box 13112
Law Courts PO
Melbourne Vic 8010

Telephone: (03) 99636839

Facsimile: (03) 99636899

Email: Mick.Owens@acma.gov.au

Interested persons are invited to make representations about the proposed revocation of the Class Licence, no later than 8 May 2015. Representations should be in writing and should be addressed to:

The Manager

Spectrum Licensing Policy Section

Australian Communications and Media Authority

PO BOX 13112

Law Courts PO

Melbourne Vic 8010
 

or by email to:

spectrumlicensingpolicy@acma.gov.au