Commonwealth of Australia

AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Notice under section 136 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992

NOTIFICATION OF THE DRAFT RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS (COMMUNICATION WITH SPACE OBJECT) CLASS LICENCE VARIATION 2020 (NO.1)

Notice is given under section 136 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act) of the draft Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object ) Class Licence Variation 2020 (No.1) (the draft Variation) proposed to be made by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) under section 132 of the Act. The draft Variation proposes to amend existing arrangements and to add new arrangements for satellite terminals by varying the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2015 (the CSO Class Licence).

Proposed changes

The CSO Class Licence authorises earth stations’ and earth receive stations’ communication with space objects, provided an appropriate space or space receive apparatus licence is in force and operating in those bands contained in the CSO class licence. This removes the requirement for the individual or Australia-wide licensing of these earth and earth receive stations.

The draft Variation proposes to amend the CSO Class Licence by:

inserting new frequency bands for earth station transmitters
inserting new frequency bands for earth station receivers
inserting notes to provide information regarding requirements under the Radiocommunications (Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone) Frequency Band Plan 2011
inserting a provision that the operation of a station for reception in certain frequency bands is not protected from interference caused by a point to point station.

Copies of the CSO Class Licence, the draft Variation, and the consultation paper explaining the above amendments in more detail are available on the ACMA’s website (www.acma.gov.au) and hard copies may be obtained from the ACMA by contacting:

Bridget Kerans

Space Systems Section

Australian Communications and Media Authority

PO Box 78

Belconnen ACT 2616

Email: Bridget.Kerans@acma.gov.au

Telephone: (02) 6219 5203

Comments

Interested persons are invited to make representations about the proposed variation no later than 3 February 2020. Representations should be in writing and should be addressed to:

The Manager, Space Systems Section

Australian Communications and Media Authority

PO Box 78

Belconnen ACT 2616

Email: freqplan@acma.gov.au

Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence Variation 2020 (No. 1)

The Australian Communications and Media Authority makes the following instrument under subsection 132(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

Dated:

Member

Member/General Manager

Australian Communications and Media Authority

1 Name

This is the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence Variation 2020 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

This instrument commences at the start of the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Note: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at https://www.legislation.gov.au.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 132(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

4 Amendment

The instrument that is specified in Schedule 1 is amended as set out in that Schedule.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2015 (F2015L01486)

Subparagraphs 6(a)(iv) and (v)

Repeal the subparagraphs, substitute:

(iv) 28.3 to 30 GHz.

2. Subparagraph 6(b)(vii)

Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:

(vii) 10.7 to 12.75 GHz; or

3. Subparagraphs 6(b)(viii) to (x)

Repeal the subparagraphs, substitute:

(viii) 17.7 to 20.2 GHz.

4. Subsection 8(3) (note)

Repeal the note, substitute:

Note 1: A station to which this class licence applies will not be afforded protection from interference caused by a radiocommunications transmitter of other radiocommunications services.

Note 2: In accordance with section 137 of the Act, this class licence does not authorise the operation of any station in a way that is inconsistent with the terms of the Radiocommunications (Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone) Frequency Band Plan 2011 [F2011L01520], as in force from time to time, accessible for free at www.legislation.gov.au.

Note 3: Section 197 of the Act makes it an offence for a person to engage in conduct where they are reckless as to whether that conduct will result in substantial interference with, or substantial disruption or disturbance of, radiocommunications. In administering that provision with respect to the operation of a station for transmission on land under this class licence within the RQZ (inner) zone described in item 1 of the Schedule to the Radiocommunications (Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone) Frequency Band Plan 2011 [F2011L01520], as in force from time to time, the ACMA will take into account whether or not the entity responsible for operating the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory has agreed to the operation of the station.

5. After section 8

Insert:

9 Interference to certain receiving stations

The operation of a station for reception in the following frequency ranges is authorised on the basis of no protection from interference caused by a point to point station:

(a) 10.7 to 11.7 GHz;

(b) 18.2 to 18.8 GHz;