Commonwealth of Australia

Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005

Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Act 2013

Australian Communications and Media Authority (Low Interference Potential Devices in the Digital Dividend) Direction 2013

I, STEPHEN MICHAEL CONROY, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy make this Direction under section 14 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 and Item 25, Schedule 1 to the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Act 2013.

Dated 28 May 2013

STEPHEN CONROY

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

_______________________________________________________________

1               Name of Direction

This Direction is the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Low Interference Potential Devices in the Digital Dividend) Direction 2013.   

2               Commencement

This Direction commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3               Interpretation

In this Direction:

ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

affected members of the radiocommunications community  means the users of low interference potential devices, and the suppliers, manufacturers and importers of such devices, that:

(a)    at the date of commencement of this Direction, operate in the 694 to 820 MHz frequency band (lower limit exclusive, upper limit inclusive); and

(b)   will, after 31 December 2014, no longer be permitted to operate in the 694 to 820 MHz frequency band.

frequency band has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

low interference potential device has the same meaning as set out in the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000.

transition pathway includes, without limitation, any of the following:

(a)    the information that the ACMA will provide on the frequency bands which will be available to affected members of the radiocommunications community after 31 December 2014; and

(b)   the awareness raising and education activities the ACMA will undertake to assist affected members of the radiocommunications community in making any necessary changes.

4               Direction

I direct the ACMA, in the performance of its spectrum management functions, to do the following by 30 July 2013:

(a)           review and report to me on the availability of spectrum to affected members of the radiocommunications community; and

(b)          provide me with advice about a transition pathway for licences for low interference potential devices used by affected members of the radiocommunications community.