7 January 2010
Two new FM frequencies made available to improve radio reception on Fraser Island
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will make two new FM frequencies available to provide coverage of the 4RBL and 4BRZ services on Fraser Island in Queensland.
The ACMA will make the two frequencies available at Eurong, Fraser Island: 97.3 MHz will be made available for the 4RBL commercial radio broadcasting service and 94.9 MHz for the 4BRZ commercial radio broadcasting service.
The ACMA’s decision follows consideration of a request from Rebel Radio Network (Rebel) which operates 4RBL and 4BRZ in the Commercial Radio Remote North East Zone RA1 (RNEZ) licence area. Rebel requested changes to the Remote Central and Eastern Australia Radio licence area plan (the RC&EA licence area plan) in order to improve coverage of its services.
The technical specifications for the Eurong transmitters are contained in the variation to the RC&EA licence area plan released today.
The varied licence area plan is available from the ACMA’s website or by calling 1300 850 115.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980.
Backgrounder
Licence area plans
The ACMA prepares licence area plans under subsection 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the BSA). 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. The ACMA may vary licence area plans under subsection 26(2) of the BSA.
Section 23 of the BSA imposes specific obligations on the ACMA when carrying out its planning functions, including, amongst other things, the ACMA is required to perform its functions in a way that promotes the objects of the Act, including the economic and efficient use of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Consultation and submissions
Section 27 of the BSA provides that the ACMA must make provisions for wide public consultation when considering whether to make or vary a licence area plan.
Before making a decision to vary the Remote Central and Eastern Australia Radio licence area plan, the ACMA undertook the following consultation.
On 18 February 2009, the ACMA published the following papers on its website:
- a draft variation to the RC&EA licence area plan;
- an explanatory paper about the changes proposed in the draft variation to the RC&EA licence area plan, inviting public comment by 13 March 2009; and
- a media release announcing the proposed draft variation to the RC&EA licence area plan.
On 18 February 2009, the ACMA wrote to the licensees providing radio broadcasting services to the Bundaberg and Fraser Coast region to advise them of the release of the draft variation to the RC&EA licence area plan and to invite their comments.
On 18 February 2009, the ACMA placed an advertisement in the Bundaberg NewsMail and the Fraser Coast Chronicle newspapers outlining the effect of the draft variation on the RC&EA licence area plan, providing details of how to obtain copies of the draft variation, how to access it on the ACMA’s website and inviting public comment.
The ACMA received three submissions on the draft variation to the RC&EA licence area plan and accompanying explanatory paper.
Remote Central and Eastern Australia Radio licence area plan
The characteristics, including technical specifications, of broadcasting services in the RC&EA licence area are varied by:
- making the FM frequency 97.3 MHz available at Eurong for a translator for the commercial radio broadcasting service 4RBL; and
- making the FM frequency 94.9 MHz available at Eurong for a translator for the commercial radio broadcasting service 4BRZ.
The intended impact and effect of this variation is to extend coverage of the 4RBL and 4BRZ commercial radio broadcasting services to the community of Eurong.
