Australia - Regulation and Spectrum - History
09.05.2014
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Australia are:
- Band III
- No cost for spectrum or licences while analogue is operating
- 128 kb per existing commercial/private analog station
- No end date for licences
- Commercial broadcasters have their own multiplexes in each of the current five large markets
- Public service broadcasters have own multiplex
- First option for broadcasters – not a third party – to own the licence for the multiplex
- No new DAB+ only operators for six years from date of switch on in each market
- No format restrictions for existing operators or limits on new DAB+ only stations on what they can offer
- No restriction on amount of data allowed
- No analogue switch off date agreed as yet
- In smaller regions it may be that public service and commercial broadcasters share a multiplex to keep costs down
- 11 on-channel repeaters are licensed and rollout commenced.
The ACMA is the regulatory and licensing authority. Currently regulations on coverage are that broadcasters cover their licence area but will not overspill widely into adjacent markets. There is a quota for Australian music on analogue but not currently on DAB+ and
video services on radio are prohibited. Other key points of the digital radio legislation in Australia are that there is no cost for the spectrum for incumbent commercial broadcasters and no new entrants are allowed for six years from the start date.
First of right of refusal is given to commercial radio broadcaster consortiums to operate multiplexes. There is an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The legislation covering digital radio requires a review to consider issues such as the availability and price of receivers, the coverage characteristics of various digital radio technologies and whether any adjustment to the regulatory framework is necessary, including the specification of subsequent start dates for digital radio in further markets. The Government has reserved spectrum for DAB+ digital radio regionally after analogue television switch-off by 2013.
Each incumbent broadcaster in the five state metropolitan capitals with permanent DAB+ services has an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The Federal Government has allocated 14 megahertz of spectrum in the VHF Band III for the rollout of DAB+ digital radio to regional areas. The ACMA is planning to implement a restack of spectrum following the switch off of analogue television at the end of 2013. CRA is working with the ACMA and the television industry on the restack to enable the best and most efficient use of the available spectrum for the regional rollout of DAB+ digital radio.
While the Federal Government and the ACMA continue planning, CRA’s Regional Digital Working Party and Digital Technical Advisory Committee (DTAC) have done detailed digital radio channel planning for commercial DAB+ rollout into regional areas. The top line coverage modelling has allowed CRA and regional commercial broadcasters to estimate the cost of capital and operational cost over the first 10 years for regional centres over 5000 population. The industry has presented a Funding Submission to the Federal Government and has continued discussions with the Federal Government and regional politicians and broadcasters throughout 2013.
To raise awareness with regional audiences, CRA developed a regional campaign “wewantdigitalradio”, which has been aired on regional stations and encourages listeners to send a message of to their local member of Parliament to support digital radio being rolled out to their area.
25.04.2014
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Australia are:
- Band III
- No cost for spectrum or licences while analogue is operating
- 128 kb per existing commercial/private analog station
- No end date for licences
- Commercial broadcasters have their own multiplexes in each of the current five large markets
- Public service broadcasters have own multiplex
- First option for broadcasters – not a third party – to own the licence for the multiplex
- No new DAB+ only operators for six years from date of switch on in each market
- No format restrictions for existing operators or limits on new DAB+ only stations on what they can offer
- No restriction on amount of data allowed
- No analogue switch off date agreed as yet
- In smaller regions it may be that public service and commercial broadcasters share a multiplex to keep costs down
- 11 on-channel repeaters are licensed and rollout commenced.
The ACMA is the regulatory and licensing authority. Currently regulations on coverage are that broadcasters cover their licence area but will not overspill widely into adjacent markets. There is a quota for Australian music on analogue but not currently on DAB+ and
video services on radio are prohibited. Other key points of the digital radio legislation in Australia are that there is no cost for the spectrum for incumbent commercial broadcasters and no new entrants are allowed for six years from the start date.
First of right of refusal is given to commercial radio broadcaster consortiums to operate multiplexes. There is an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The legislation covering digital radio requires a review to consider issues such as the availability and price of receivers, the coverage characteristics of various digital radio technologies and whether any adjustment to the regulatory framework is necessary, including the specification of subsequent start dates for digital radio in further markets. The Government has reserved spectrum for DAB+ digital radio regionally after analogue television switch-off by 2013.
Each incumbent broadcaster in the five state metropolitan capitals with permanent DAB+ services has an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The Federal Government has allocated 14 megahertz of spectrum in the VHF Band III for the rollout of DAB+ digital radio to regional areas. The ACMA is planning to implement a restack of spectrum following the switch off of analogue television at the end of 2013. CRA is working with the ACMA and the television industry on the restack to enable the best and most efficient use of the available spectrum for the regional rollout of DAB+ digital radio.
While the Federal Government and the ACMA continue planning, CRA’s Regional Digital Working Party and Digital Technical Advisory Committee (DTAC) have done detailed digital radio channel planning for commercial DAB+ rollout into regional areas. The top line coverage modelling has allowed CRA and regional commercial broadcasters to estimate the cost of capital and operational cost over the first 10 years for regional centres over 5000 population. The industry has presented a Funding Submission to the Federal Government and has continued discussions with the Federal Government and regional politicians and broadcasters throughout 2013.
To raise awareness with regional audiences, CRA developed a regional campaign “wewantdigitalradio”, which has been aired on regional stations and encourages listeners to send a message of to their local member of Parliament to support digital radio being rolled out to their area.
05.01.2014
Key features of regulation for digital radio in Australia are:
- Band III
- No cost for spectrum or licences while analogue is operating
- 128 kb per existing commercial/private analog station
- No end date for licences
- Commercial broadcasters have their own multiplexes in each of the current five large markets
- Public service broadcasters have own multiplex
- First option for broadcasters – not a third party – to own the licence for the multiplex
- No new DAB+ only operators for six years from date of switch on in each market
- No format restrictions for existing operators or limits on new DAB+ only stations on what they can offer
- No restriction on amount of data allowed
- No analogue switch off date agreed as yet
- In smaller regions it may be that public service and commercial broadcasters share a multiplex to keep costs down
- 11 on-channel repeaters are licensed and rollout commenced.
The ACMA is the regulatory and licensing authority. Currently regulations on coverage are that broadcasters cover their licence area but will not overspill widely into adjacent markets. There is a quota for Australian music on analogue but not currently on DAB+ and
video services on radio are prohibited. Other key points of the digital radio legislation in Australia are that there is no cost for the spectrum for incumbent commercial broadcasters and no new entrants are allowed for six years from the start date.
First of right of refusal is given to commercial radio broadcaster consortiums to operate multiplexes. There is an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The legislation covering digital radio requires a review to consider issues such as the availability and price of receivers, the coverage characteristics of various digital radio technologies and whether any adjustment to the regulatory framework is necessary, including the specification of subsequent start dates for digital radio in further markets. The Government has reserved spectrum for DAB+ digital radio regionally after analogue television switch-off by 2013.
Each incumbent broadcaster in the five state metropolitan capitals with permanent DAB+ services has an entitlement to a minimum of 128kbit/s (1/9 multiplex) and a maximum of 256kbit/s (1/5 multiplex). The Federal Government has allocated 14 megahertz of spectrum in the VHF Band III for the rollout of DAB+ digital radio to regional areas. The ACMA is planning to implement a restack of spectrum following the switch off of analogue television at the end of 2013. CRA is working with the ACMA and the television industry on the restack to enable the best and most efficient use of the available spectrum for the regional rollout of DAB+ digital radio.
While the Federal Government and the ACMA continue planning, CRA’s Regional Digital Working Party and Digital Technical Advisory Committee (DTAC) have done detailed digital radio channel planning for commercial DAB+ rollout into regional areas. The top line coverage modelling has allowed CRA and regional commercial broadcasters to estimate the cost of capital and operational cost over the first 10 years for regional centres over 5000 population. The industry has presented a Funding Submission to the Federal Government and has continued discussions with the Federal Government and regional politicians and broadcasters throughout 2013.
To raise awareness with regional audiences, CRA developed a regional campaign “wewantdigitalradio”, which has been aired on regional stations and encourages listeners to send a message of to their local member of Parliament to support digital radio being rolled out to their area.