- 1Consultation opened07 Apr 2025
- 2Consultation closed09 May 2025
- 3Submissions published28 May 2025
- 4Outcome published07 Jul 2025
Key documents
Outcome
We received 2 submissions to this consultation, which are available below. Both supported our proposal to make the new instrument – subject to clarification of the device compliance requirements for RNSS receivers.
The submitters wanted clarity on the impact of the proposed removal of section 5 from the 2015 RNSS Class Licence. (This section set out compliance obligations relating to standards and equipment rules.) They sought to understand how its removal might affect compliance requirements for RNSS receivers.
These provisions are now covered by the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 and section 160 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The removal of section 5 is intended to avoid duplication and risk of a person being penalised twice for the same breach.
After considering submissions, we made the Radiocommunications (Radionavigation-Satellite Service) Class Licence 2025 with minor changes to the consultation draft.
Four definitions contained in the draft instrument have been included in the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2025 (RID), by amendments that commenced on 21 June 2025. The definitions for ‘radionavigation-satellite service’, ‘RNSS frequency’, ‘RNSS radiocommunication’ and ‘RNSS receiver’ have been removed from the 2025 class licence and replaced with a reference to the RID.
Previous consultation: The issue
RNSS receivers – also commonly known as Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers – are used in smartphones, cars, aeroplanes and other location-aware devices to provide accurate position information anywhere on Earth.
The Radiocommunications (Radionavigation-Satellite Service) Class Licence 2015 (RNSS Class Licence) authorises the use of RNSS receivers in specified shared frequency bands. It provides a standing authorisation to operate RNSS receivers to receive RNSS radiocommunications by any person, provided they comply with the conditions set out in the licence.
The RNSS Class Licence is due to sunset on 1 October 2025. We consider it is operating effectively and efficiently, and continues to form a necessary and useful part of the legislative framework.
Before it sunsets, we propose to replace it with the draft Radiocommunications (Radionavigation-Satellite Service) Class Licence 2025. This maintains the operation and effect of the RNSS Class Licence and includes some minor changes to:
- remove section 5 concerning standards and equipment rules, as these provisions are covered by other legislative instruments made by the ACMA
- bring it up to date with contemporary legislative drafting practices.
