Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Determination [see Note 1]
This Determination is the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Fixed Licence) Determination 1997.
2 Scope
(1) This Determination sets out the conditions to which a fixed licence is subject in the following manner:
(a) every fixed licence (point to point station) is subject to the conditions in Part 2;
(b) every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) that is not referred to in paragraph (ba), (bc) or (bd) is subject to the conditions in Part 3;
(ba) every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) used in the provision of distance education services is subject to the conditions in Part 3A;
Note Distance education services are also known as the School of the Air.
(bc) every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) for a station that operates in the 1427–1535 MHz, 1900–1920 MHz, 2010–2025 MHz or 3400–3700 MHz frequency band is subject to the conditions in Part 3E;
(bd) certain fixed licences (point to multipoint station) for a station that operates in the 26.5–31.3 GHz band are subject tothe conditions in Part 3F;
(c) every fixed licence (sound outside broadcast station) is subject to the conditions in Part 4;
(d) every fixed licence (television outside broadcast station) is subject to the conditions in Part 5;
(e) every fixed licence (television outside broadcast network station) is subject to the conditions in Part 6;
(f) every fixed licence (television outside broadcast system station) is subject to the conditions in Part 7.
(2) However, if a condition in this Determination is inconsistent with a condition specified in the licence, the condition specified in the licence applies.
3 Interpretation
(1) In this Determination:
2.5 GHz band means the frequency band 2500–2690 MHz.
7 network means the television network known as ‘The Seven Network’.
7.2 GHz band means the frequency band 7100 MHz to 7425 MHz.
9 network means the television network known as ‘The Nine Network’.
10 network means the television network known as ‘Network 10’.
13 GHz band means the frequency band 12.750 GHz to 13.250 GHz.
26.5–31.3 GHz band means the frequency band 26.500–31.300 GHz.
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
base station means the point to multipoint station to which a licence relates that is established at a fixed location mentioned in the licence.
bit error ratio means the ratio of the number of bit errors to the total number of bits transmitted in a given time interval.
conducted spurious power means the power of conducted spurious radio frequency signals generated from components and wiring in a transmitter or receiver and conducted to the input terminals of the transmitter or receiver.
duty cycle means the ratio of the period of time a transmitter is transmitting in a given period of time to the given period of time.
fixed licence (point to multipoint station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a point to multipoint station.
fixed licence (point to point station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a point to point station.
fixed licence (sound outside broadcast station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a sound outside broadcast station.
fixed licence (television outside broadcast network station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a television outside broadcast network station.
fixed licence (television outside broadcast station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a television outside broadcast station.
fixed licence (television outside broadcast system station) means a fixed licence authorising the holder to operate a television outside broadcast system station.
licence means:
(a) a fixed licence (point to point station); or
(b) a fixed licence (point to multipoint station); or
(c) a fixed licence (sound outside broadcast station); or
(d) a fixed licence (television outside broadcast station); or
(e) a fixed licence (television outside broadcast network station); or
(f) a fixed licence (television outside broadcast system station).
licensee means:
(a) the holder of a licence; or
(b) a person authorised by the holder of a licence to operate a fixed station under the licence.
maximum beamwidth in the E‑plane means the angle between the half power points of an antenna measured in the plane of the electric field.
mid band gain means the antenna gain in the centre of the frequency band of operation.
minimum front/back ratio means the minimum ratio of the maximum directivity of an antenna in the forward direction to its directivity in a specified backward direction.
remote control station means a fixed station established at a fixed location to achieve remote control of a base station and a supplementary base station (if any).
remote station means a fixed station that communicates with a base station or a supplementary base station (if any).
supplementary base station means a point to multipoint station used with a base station to communicate with at least 1 remote station.
wireless access services (WAS) band means the frequency band:
(a) 1427–1535 MHz; or
(b) 1900–1920 MHz; or
(c) 2010–2025 MHz; or
(d) 3400–3700 MHz.
Note For the definition of other expressions used in this Determination, see the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000 and the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.
(2) For this Determination, a frequency band described using 2 frequencies starts immediately above the lower frequency and ends at the higher frequency.
Part 2 Conditions for fixed licence (point to point station)
4 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (point to point station) is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any point to point station under the licence by the licensee.
5 Technical performance of antenna
(1) If the licensee operates a point to point station to transmit on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Schedule 1, the licensee must operate the station using:
(a) the antenna specified on the licence; or
(b) if no antenna is specified on the licence — an antenna that complies with the requirements mentioned in columns 3, 4 and 5 of the item.
Note The requirements in columns 3, 4 and 5 of the items in Schedule 1 are minimum requirements only. Every licensee is encouraged to use an antenna exceeding those requirements if possible.
(2) If the licensee operates a point to point station to transmit on a frequency that is not mentioned in column 2 of an item in Schedule 1, the licensee must operate the station using:
(a) the antenna specified on the licence; or
(b) if no antenna is specified on the licence — an antenna that can be used in operating the station without causing harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
Part 3 Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint station) except licences for stations used to provide distance education, stations that operate in wireless access services (WAS) bands or stations that operate in the 26.5–31.3 GHz band
6 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) that does not apply to:
(a) a station used to provide distance education services;
(b) a station that operates in a wireless access service (WAS) band; or
(c) a station that operates in the 26.5–31.3 GHz band;
is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any point to multipoint station under the licence by the licensee.
7 Restrictions on communications
The licensee of a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) must operate a fixed station only to communicate with other stations to which the licence relates.
8 Supplementary base stations
If the licensee operates a supplementary base station, the licensee:
(a) must not operate the station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) must operate the station to transmit only using the receive or transmit frequencies specified on the licence for the base station; and
(c) must operate the station only to overcome deficiencies within the coverage area of the base station; and
(d) must not operate the station to extend the coverage area of the base station.
9 Remote stations
(1) For a remote station, the licensee:
(a) must not operate the station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) must operate the station to transmit to the base station or supplementary base station (if any) using the receive or transmit frequencies specified on the licence for the base station.
(2) The licensee must not operate a remote station for data transmission, telecommand or telemetry if:
(a) the duty cycle of the station is more than 1 in 30; or
(b) the duration of a transmission from the station is more than 2 seconds; or
(c) the minimum repetition interval of the station is less than 10 seconds.
(3) If the licensee operates a remote station for data transmission, telecommand or telemetry in accordance with column 2 of an item in Schedule 2, the licensee must operate the station using the transmitter output power mentioned in column 3 of the item.
(4) The licensee may operate a remote station for purposes other than data transmission, telecommand or telemetry if it is operated:
(a) using the maximum transmitter output power specified on the licence; or
(b) if no power is specified on the licence — using a maximum transmitter output power of 1 watt at the antenna input.
(5) If a remote station is located in a central business district of a city or town, the licensee:
(a) must not locate the antenna of the station more than 30 metres above the average surrounding ground level; and
(b) must fit a device between the transmitter and the antenna that provides intermodulation performance equivalent to, or better than, the intermodulation performance achieved by a 20 dB in‑line attenuator.
10 Remote control stations
(1) If the licensee operates a remote control station, the licensee:
(a) must not operate the station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) must operate the station to transmit to the base station or supplementary base station (if any) using the receive or transmit frequencies specified on the licence for the base station; and
(c) must not operate the station unless it is operated using a maximum transmitter output power not exceeding 1 watt at the antenna input.
(2) If the licensee operates a remote control station for data transmission, telecommand or telemetry, the licensee must operate the station using a transmitter output power that does not exceed the power necessary to achieve a wanted receive signal level of 10 dB above the input signal level required to achieve a bit error ratio of 1 in 1000 at the base station.
(3) If a remote control station is located in a central business district of a city or town, the licensee:
(a) must not locate the antenna of the station more than 30 metres above the average surrounding ground level; and
(b) must fit a device between the transmitter and the antenna that provides intermodulation performance equivalent to, or better than, the intermodulation performance achieved by a 20 dB in‑line attenuator.
11 Short range communications
(1) This section applies if a licensee of a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) operates a fixed station to communicate with another station not more than 100 metres from it.
(2) The licensee must operate the fixed station:
(a) in a manner that ensures that any transmitter or receiver conducted spurious power is less than minus 45 dBm; and
(b) using an external antenna located not more than 10 metres above ground level; and
(c) in a manner that ensures that the transmitter noise power does not exceed minus 60 dBm in a 10 kHz bandwidth at an offset that is at least 300 kHz from the frequency specified on the licence.
(3) If the licensee operates the fixed station in a temperature range of 0–40 degrees centigrade (inclusive), the licensee must operate the station using adjacent channel power not exceeding minus 30 dBm in a 10 kHz bandwidth that is centred in the upper or lower 12.5 kHz channel adjoining the bandwidth specified on the licence.
Part 3A Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint station) used to provide distance education services
11A Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) for a station used to provide distance education services is subject to the conditions in this Part and Parts 3B and 3C that are applicable to the licence.
11B Transmitter output power
The licensee of a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) must not operate a station authorised under the licence at a transmitter output power greater than the power sufficient to achieve efficient communications.
Note Section 18 imposes a further restriction on the level of power used to operate a remote station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station).
11C Restrictions on communications
The licensee of a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) must only operate a fixed station authorised under the licence:
(a) to communicate with other stations to which the licence relates; or
(b) if no other satisfactory means of communication is available, to transmit or receive messages in relation to distress or emergency situations.
11D Call signs
When operating a station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station), the licensee must:
(a) use:
(i) the call sign allocated by the ACMA; or
(ii) another form of identification that clearly identifies the station; and
(b) transmit the call sign or form of identification at the start of each transmission or series of transmissions.
Part 3B Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint) medium frequency (MF) and high frequency (HF) stations
11E Technical performance of MF and HF base stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a base station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in MF or HF bands; and
(b) is operating single sideband suppressed carrier radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must comply with the requirements of the edition of a document mentioned in Schedule 2A applying to the station that was:
(a) last published before the station was manufactured in, or imported into, Australia; and
(b) in force at the time of manufacture or importation.
11F Technical performance of MF and HF remote stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a remote station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in MF or HF bands; and
(b) is operating single sideband suppressed carrier radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must comply with the requirements of the edition of a document mentioned in Schedule 2A applying to the station that was:
(a) last published before the station was manufactured in, or imported into, Australia; and
(b) in force at the time of manufacture or importation.
11G Transmitter output power for MF and HF remote stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a remote station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in MF or HF bands; and
(b) is operating single sideband suppressed carrier radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must not be operated using transmitter output power of more than 100 watts pX.
11H Additional conditions for MF and HF remote stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a remote station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in MF or HF bands; and
(b) is operating single sideband suppressed carrier radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must not be operated:
(a) if operation of the station would cause harmful interference to a service provided by another station; or
(b) to transmit to the base station unless it uses a frequency specified in the licence for the base station.
Part 3C Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint) very high frequency (VHF) stations
11I Technical performance for VHF base stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a base station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in VHF bands; and
(b) is operating VHF radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must comply with the requirements of the edition of a document mentioned in Schedule 2B applying to the station that was:
(a) last published before the station was manufactured in, or imported into, Australia; and
(b) in force at the time of manufacture or importation.
11J VHF supplementary base stations
(1) Subsection (2) applies to a supplementary base station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in VHF bands; and
(b) is operating VHF radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must not be operated:
(a) if its operation would cause harmful interference to the service provided by another station; and
(b) unless it uses a frequency specified in the licence of the base station; and
(c) unless it is used to overcome a deficiency within the coverage area of the base station.
11K Additional conditions for VHF remote stations
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a remote station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in VHF bands; and
(b) is operating VHF radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must not be operated if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
(3) The station must not transmit to a base station or supplementary base station (if any) unless the transmission uses a frequency specified in the licence for the base station.
11L VHF remote control stations
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a remote control station authorised under a fixed licence (point to multipoint station) if the station:
(a) is operating in VHF bands; and
(b) is operating VHF radiotelephony equipment.
(2) The station must not be operated:
(a) if its operation would cause harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) unless it uses a frequency specified in the licence for the base station; and
(c) if the maximum transmitter output power exceeds 1 watt at the antenna input.
(3) If the station is located in a town:
(a) the antenna of the station must not be more than 30 metres above the average surrounding ground level; and
(b) a device must be fitted between the transmitter and the antenna that provides intermodulation performance equivalent to, or better than, the intermodulation performance achieved by an in line attenuator of 20 dB.
Part 3E Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint station) for stations that operate in wireless access services (WAS) bands
11R Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) for a station that operates in a wireless access services (WAS) band is subject to the conditions in this Part.
11S Remote stations
If the station is a remote station, the licensee:
(a) must not operate the station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) must operate the station to transmit to the base station using the receive or transmit frequencies specified on the licence for the base station.
11T Adjacent channel interference
(1) If the station is a base station that operates using time division duplex, the licensee:
(a) must not cause harmful interference to a base station receiver operating on an adjacent channel that:
(i) operates using time division duplex; and
(ii) is operated in accordance with its licence; or
(b) cannot claim protection from harmful interference caused by a base station operating on an adjacent channel that:
(i) operates using time division duplex; and
(ii) is operated in accordance with its licence.
(2) The licensee is taken to have complied with subsection (1) in relation to another licensee if the licensees:
(a) align transmission and reception timing as soon as practicable to avoid the interference; or
(b) make other arrangements that avoid the interference.
(3) In this section:
adjacent channel, in relation to a licence, means a frequency band that:
(a) is within a wireless access services (WAS) band; and
(b) is immediately adjacent to the frequency band to which the licence relates.
11U Adaptive transmit power control
The licensee must use adaptive transmit power control on each station that is authorised to be operated under the licence.
Part 3F Conditions for fixed licences (point to multipoint station) for stations that operate in the 26.5–31.3 GHz band
11V Conditions
For paragraph 107(1)(f) of the Act, every fixed licence (point to multipoint station) for a station that operates in the 26.5–31.3 GHz band is subject to the conditions in this Part.
11W Remote stations
If the station is a remote station, the licensee:
(a) must not operate the station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station; and
(b) must operate the station to transmit to the base station using the receive or transmit frequencies specified on the licence for the base station.
11X Adaptive transmit power control
The licensee must use adaptive transmit power control on each station that is authorised to be operated under the licence.
Part 4 Conditions for fixed licence (sound outside broadcast station)
12 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (sound outside broadcast station) is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any sound outside broadcast station under the licence by the licensee.
13 Harmful interference
The licensee must not operate a sound outside broadcast station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
Note All licensees of sound outside broadcast stations operating in the same coverage area share the frequencies specified in their licence.
Part 5 Conditions for fixed licence (television outside broadcast station)
14 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (television outside broadcast station) is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any television outside broadcast station under the licence by the licensee.
15 Harmful interference
The licensee must not operate a television outside broadcast station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
Note The licensee may operate 1 television outside broadcast station under the licence, in the area specified in the licence.
Part 6 Fixed licence (television outside broadcast network station)
16 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (television outside broadcast network station) is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any television outside broadcast network station under the licence by the licensee.
Note The licensee may operate 1 or more television outside broadcast network stations under the licence.
17 Harmful interference
The licensee must not operate a television outside broadcast network station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
Part 7 Conditions for fixed licence (television outside broadcast system station)
21 Conditions
For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every fixed licence (television outside broadcast system station) is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any television outside broadcast system station under the licence by the licensee.
22 Harmful interference
The licensee must not operate a television outside broadcast system station if its operation causes harmful interference to a service provided by another station.
Note The licensee may operate 1 or more television outside broadcast system stations under the licence, in the area specified in the licence.