Proposed amateur class licensing arrangements and higher power operation - consultation 31/2022

Following extensive public consultation on our Review of non-assigned amateur and outpost regulatory arrangements and our response to submissions, we are now consulting on operational arrangements to support the proposed amateur class licence, as well as on our proposal for a staged implementation of higher power authorisation.

Implementing the proposed class licence

We present an updated class licence – the draft Radiocommunications (Amateur Stations) Class Licence 2022 – that incorporates changes suggested by representative bodies, amateur radio clubs and individual amateurs during the initial consultation on our review of non-assigned amateur licensing arrangements.

Key updates to the proposed class licence have been made to the conditions about electromagnetic energy (EME) requirements, reciprocal arrangements for overseas amateurs visiting Australia and access to the 50–52 MHz frequency band for Standard amateurs.

Subject to the outcomes of this consultation and the implementation of operational arrangements to support the proposed class licence, we intend to implement the proposed class licensing arrangements from 1 July 2023. We will keep amateur licensees updated on our progress before the class licence is made and comes into legal effect. We will provide advice on any actions required by amateur licensees, including requests for surrender of licences and refunds, where appropriate.

Operational policies and processes

The consultation paper also discusses our view on how matters related to operational policy and processes will support the class licence. These include call sign administration, public register options, amateur operating procedures, international reciprocity for Advanced amateurs travelling overseas and arrangements for amateur clubs.

Higher power operation 

In addition to the matters being considered under the review, we are also consulting on the ACMA’s position to authorise higher power on a case-by-case basis. This takes into consideration feedback from amateur licensees on current higher power uses and arrangements, as well as other suggested uses. The consultation paper includes the proposal for Advanced amateurs to seek authorisation to use higher power for scientific and experimentation use cases in the short term, and for the ACMA to consider higher power operations for other purposes in the medium and longer term.

We invite comments from stakeholders on the questions in the consultation paper. Please follow the guidance on page 3 of the consultation paper about submissions from clubs and representative bodies, and for pro-forma submissions.

You can choose either to make a submission by using the ‘Upload a submission’ button or by sending your submission to SLPSConsultations@acma.gov.au. You will receive an automatic notification confirming its receipt.

Due to the large number of submissions we receive, we do not acknowledge receipt of submissions individually. If you do not receive an automatic reply within 24 hours, please send an email to spectrumlicensingpolicy@acma.gov.au to let us know, so we can deal with it immediately.

To ensure that all submissions are collected and considered efficiently, please do not send submissions to individual ACMA staff.