Apply for a community radio licence

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.

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. 

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.

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.