1 Name of Plan [see Note 1]
This Plan is the Radiocommunications (Digital Radio Channels — Western Australia) Plan 2007.
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
This Plan commences on the day after it is registered.
3 Definitions
In this Plan:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
category means a category of digital radio multiplex transmitter licence described in section 5 of the Act.
DAB means digital audio broadcasting.
designated BSA radio area means:
(a) the BSA licence area (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) of a commercial radio broadcasting licence; or
(b) the BSA licence area of a community radio broadcasting licence, where that BSA licence area is the same (or is deemed to be the same) as the BSA licence area of a commercial radio broadcasting licence.
ERP means effective radiated power.
frequency block means a frequency channel of 1.536 MHz bandwidth.
maximum antenna height means the maximum permitted height above ground level of the electrical centre of an antenna.
technical planning guidelines means the guidelines made under section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, as in force from time to time.
4 Digital radio channel plans
(1) For subsection 44A (1) of the Act, each Schedule is a digital radio channel plan for the designated BSA radio area specified in that Schedule.
(2) The digital radio channel plan specified in a Schedule:
(a) allots a frequency block or blocks in relation to the designated BSA radio area for use by digital radio multiplex transmitter licensees; and
(b) reserves a frequency block for a category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence for the designated BSA radio area to be issued in accordance with subsection 102E (2) of the Act; and
(c) determines which of the following types of licences, or which combination of the following types of licences, are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area:
(i) category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;
(ii) category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence; and
(d) if a particular type of licence mentioned in paragraph (c) is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area — determines whether:
(i) a single licence of that type is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; or
(ii) 2 or more licences of that type are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; and
(e) determines technical specifications of multiplex transmitters operated under digital radio multiplex transmitter licences for the designated BSA radio area.
Note The relevant technical specifications are set out in each Schedule as “attachments”.
5 Maximum ERP limits
(1) For each digital radio multiplex transmitter, the ERP of that transmitter in any part of a sector or bearing must not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the output radiation pattern table for that sector or bearing.
(2) The licensee of a digital radio multiplex transmitter must, if requested by ACMA to do so, demonstrate, to the satisfaction of ACMA, that the ERP of a transmitter in any part of a sector or bearing specified by ACMA complies with this section.
6 Co-channel transmitters
The technical specifications for a co-channel transmitter licensed under a relevant digital radio multiplex transmitter licence are those determined by the technical planning guidelines.
Note As at the date of the commencement of this section, the technical specifications for a co-channel transmitter licensed under a relevant digital radio multiplex transmitter are set out in Division 8 of part 8 of the Broadcasting Services (Technical Planning) Guidelines 2007.