We maintain solid relationships with ACMA and recently challenged an embargo on all 400MHz band licence allocations in South Eastern Queensland. The reason for the embargo is to facilitate the communications for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in early 2018 yet the embargo places restrictions on frequency allocations that we believe are far too severe and have little regard for the ongoing livelihood of our members. As a result of the challenge, the ACMA have slightly modified the conditions of the embargo and claim that high-power wide-area licences will still be allocated provided there is justification for the service. However, the clause that requires licensees to relinquish use of their radio system for the period of the games remains. We are not comfortable with this situation and will continue to discuss options with the ACMA.
In other ACMA news, ARCIA has been approached to make a presentation at the ACMA Radcomms conference in Sydney in early November. We have also responded to the ACMA discussion paper on ‘The Review of Interference Management Principles’ – the response can be viewed on our website.