Who can apply
Companies can only apply if they:
- formed in Australia or an Australian territory
- represent a community interest.
‘Companies’ in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 includes:
- incorporated associations
- companies limited by guarantee.
It is not appropriate for other companies to hold a community licence. This includes:
- certain cooperatives
- companies limited by shares.
How to apply
You can only apply after we advertise applications in the print and online media.
Community broadcasting licences are valid for 5 years.
Temporary community broadcasting licences may be available. These last up to 12 months. If we give you a temporary licence, this does not guarantee we will give you a long-term community licence.
How we assess your application
For long-term community broadcasting licences, we assess:
- how well the proposed service would meet the community’s current and future needs
- the interests in that community
- how well the services would provide material that is significant to the local community
- other broadcasting services in that licence area, including national services
- whether the applicant is able to provide the proposed service.
We also consider whether this licence would lead to a situation we don’t want such as:
- one person in control of more than one community broadcasting service in the same licence area
- the Commonwealth, a state or territory or a political party in control of a community broadcasting licence.
After we give you a licence
If we give you a licence, you must start to broadcast within one year unless we agree to a longer date.
We allocate community broadcasting licences under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.