Issue No 19: 7 July 2020

Reductions Sought in Spectrum Apparatus Licensing Fees

The Communications Alliance Satellite Services Working Group (SSWG) has made a submission to the ACMA‘s consultation on the implementation of its Spectrum Pricing Review. The ACMA is consulting on new spectrum pricing guidelines, its proposed areas of focus and a work program reflecting those areas, and further analysis on proposed new spectrum taxes.

The SSWG has called for  substantial reductions in apparatus licensing fees for space services. These reductions, it says, will help generate a broader  range of innovative and affordable satellite services for  all Australians and foster the development of a globally competitive Australian space industry. The proposed reductions include:

• a new baseline of spectrum pricing for Australia-wide Apparatus licensing, including fees for specific bands for space stations (satellites) and earth stations.
• application of appropriate discounts for space services on account of reusability of spectrum among GSO and NGSO satellites and other appropriate factors.
• introduction of the concepts of spectrum denial caused by earth stations and the practical consequences of evaluating opportunity cost pricing for individual stations and where a number of stations are collocated in the same band.

Communications Alliance Generally Supportive of ACCC Proposed Revisions to Record Keeping Rules

Communications Alliance has made a submission to the ACCC’s review of the Division 12 and Internet Activity Record Keeping Rules. While Industry supports many of the proposed changes, the submission did raise questions on some specific matters. The submission is available on our website.

Communications Alliance Supports Improved Caller Location Information for Emergency Calls

Communications Alliance has released for public comment new draft requirements that will improve the locating of people making emergency calls from mobile phones. They will enhance the existing work by the telecommunications industry to assist police, fire and ambulance services respond to emergency calls.

The requirements are in a draft a revision of one of its Australian Standards that adds a requirement for mobile phones to generate Advanced Mobile Location (AML) messages when making emergency calls. They align with the international specification of AML by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

After a mobile phone generates an AML message it will be passed by mobile carriers to Telstra, in its role as the Emergency Call Person for Triple Zero. Telstra then passes the information on to the emergency service organisations responding to the emergency call.

The requirements are in the draft DR AS/CA S042.1 2020 Requirements for connection to an air interface of a Telecommunications Network— Part 1: General, which applies to new Customer Equipment (CE) that is an addressable device and is designed or intended for connection to a Public Mobile Telecommunications Service (PMTS) or a Satellite Service e.g. mobile phones and satellite phones.

The public comment period on draft DR AS/CA S042.1:2020 Standard is for a legislated minimum of sixty days and will close on 1 September 2020.

A copy of the draft Standard is available from here.