Issue No 29: 28 September 2020

Input into the Acma’s Licensing, Technical Framework and Pricing Arrangements for the 26 Ghz And 28 Ghz Spectrum Bands

The Communications Alliance Satellite Services Working Group (SSWG) provided a submission on the ACMA’s consultation on apparatus licences in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands, which is proposing new licensing, technical framework and pricing arrangements. The central feature of the consultation revolves around Area-Wide Licences (AWLs), which the SSWG generally supports. AWLs allow for scalable bandwidth and geographic areas by aggregating geographic cells and/or spectrum blocks, allowing for better spectrum management with the introduction of these new licences.

A number of matters were raised in relation to the proposed new arrangements for the ACMA’s further consideration, including a proposal to postpone the allocations to next year, defining the primary/secondary status of services, proposing simpler power limits and introducing arrangements to support non-geostationary satellite constellations.

Changes to the Radiocommunications Legislation

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications is currently reviewing the draft Radiocommunications Bill which is being amended to remove existing unnecessary prescription and legislative barriers. Amendments being proposed in the Bill include clarifying the roles of the Minister and the ACMA; streamlining the spectrum allocation and re-allocation processes; improving flexibility and reducing regulatory barriers between licence types; better reflecting modern spectrum needs and supply chains, and introducing a modernised compliance and enforcement regime.

Following our earlier input on the Exposure Draft of Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill in July, Communications Alliance has now provided a submission to the Senate consultation on the draft Bill.