28 September 2007
ACMA proposes changes to commercial and open narrowcasting radio services in the Innisfail region of Queensland
Following continued consultation with broadcasters, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has revised its proposals for commercial and open narrowcasting radio services in the Innisfail region of Queensland.
The revised proposals are contained in a revised draft variation to the licence area plan for radio in Innisfail, released today. There are a number of variations to the original proposals, which were released in May 2007
The licensee of the 4ZKZ service in Innisfail has indicated that the two transmitters proposed for Bramston Beach and Murray Falls are not required.
‘ACMA therefore proposes to remove capacity for these transmitters, as the areas are adequately served by other transmitters within the area,’ said Giles Tanner, General Manager, ACMA Inputs to Industry Division.
The licensee has also requested an additional transmitter at Tully because the 4ZKZ service in Innisfail does not provide an adequate signal to that area, and the licensee regularly received listener complaints about poor signal in Tully.
‘The proposed transmitter in Tully should rectify the problem,’ said Mr Tanner.
The final proposed change would be to add capacity for a new transmitter at Babinda, which is currently licensed as a retransmission service.
‘It is common in planning to authorise the operation of a transmitter before the variation of a licence area plan, to expedite the commencement of a service,’ explained Mr Tanner.
Two other proposals are unchanged. They are to vary the transmitter site for a high power open narrowcasting service licensed to United Christian Broadcasters at Tully because of problems commencing the service at the previously identified site.
ACMA is also proposing to vary the transmitter site for the 4KZ and 4ZKZ commercial radio services at Hinchinbrook, to allow the commencement of a transmitter planned for Hinchinbrook as part of the government’s Commercial Radio Blackspots Program.
The discussion paper and revised draft variation to the licence area plan are available on the ACMA website.
The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm, Wednesday 31 October 2007.
Submissions can be sent by email to lapvariation@acma.gov.au or by mail to: Draft LAP Variation – Innisfail Radio, ACMA, PO Box 78 Belconnen ACT 2616.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Manager Media on (02) 9334 7980.
Backgrounder
Licence area plans determine the number and characteristics, including technical specifications, of broadcasting services that are to be available in particular areas of Australia with the use of the broadcasting services bands.
ACMA prepares licence area plans under section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, and may vary them under section 26(2).
The revised draft variation to the licence area plan for radio in Innisfail proposes:
- 4KZ to operate on 97.7 MHz from Broadcast Site Casual Cassowary Tea House Bruce Hwy Hinchinbrook with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 50 W directional radiation pattern
- 4ZKZ to operate on 96.1 MHz from Broadcast Site Casual Cassowary Tea House Bruce Hwy Hinchinbrook with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 50 W directional radiation pattern.
- HPON at Tully to operate on 92.7 MHz from Euramo 7km S of Tully with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 300 W omni-directional radiation pattern.
- Remove capacity for two transmitters for commercial services at Bramston Beach and Murray Falls as follows:
- 4ZKZ operating on 88.5 MHz from Broadcast Site 1 Dawson Road Bramston Beach
- 4ZKZ operating on 93.1MHz from Broadcast Site Council Water Treatment Plant Murray Falls
- Add capacity in Tully – 4ZKZ to operate on 90.3 MHz from Broadcast site Euramo 7km S of Tully with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 300 W omni-directional radiation pattern.
- Add capacity in Babinda, which is currently licensed as a retransmission service. 4KZ to operate on 102.5 MHz from TV Site Graham Range with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 400 W omni-directional radiation pattern.
The Australian Broadcasting Authority determined the licence area plan for Innisfail radio on 12 November 1997 and varied it in October 1998 and on 31 July 2003.
ACMA released a draft variation to the Innisfail licence area plan for comment in May 2007.
