Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY issues this Class Licence under subsection 132 (1) and 135 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Dated    7 February    2002

A.J SHAW                                                                                                                Chair
R HORTON                                                                                                           Deputy Chair

Australian Communications Authority

Contents
Page
	1	Name of Class Licence	2
	2	When Class Licence comes into force	2
	3	Definitions	2
	4	Revocation	3
	5	Class Licence	3
	6	Conditions — general	4
	7	Operating a CB station to transmit audio tones	4
	8	Conditions relating to CB stations that operate through CB repeater stations	5
	9	Directions	5
	10	Technical requirements	6
	11	Standards	6
Schedule 1	CB station operational requirements	7
Part 1	HF	7
Part 2	UHF	8
Schedule 2	Documents	11

  
  
1	Name of Class Licence
		This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002.
2	When Class Licence comes into force
		This Class Licence comes into force on gazettal.
3	Definitions
		In this Class Licence:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
CB repeater station means a station:
	(a)	established at a fixed location for the reception and automatic re‑transmission of radio signals from CB stations on a channel mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1; and
	(b)	operated under an apparatus licence.
CB station or citizen band radio station means a station operating on a channel mentioned in Schedule 1. 
device compliance day, for a CB station, means the most recent of the following days:
	(a)	if the CB station was manufactured in Australia — the day it was manufactured;
	(b)	if the CB station was manufactured overseas and imported — the day it was imported;
	(c)	if the CB station was altered or modified in a material respect — the day it was altered or modified.
lower sideband, or LSB, means an SSB radio emission of which the sideband above the carrier is suppressed.
PM means phase modulation.
relevant document, for a CB station, means the document mentioned in Schedule 2, that:
	(a)	applies to the CB station; and
	(b)	was published most recently before the device compliance day for the CB station.
upper sideband, or USB, means an SSB radio emission of which the sideband below the carrier is suppressed.
Note   For definitions of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Act, the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993 and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
4	Revocation
		For section 135 of the Act, the following instruments are revoked:
•	Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence 1994, notified in the Gazette on 16 September 1994
•	Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence (Variation No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 28 September 1994
•	Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence Variation 1999 (No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 7 July 1999
•	Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence Variation 2000 (No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 22 December 2000.
5	Class Licence
		Subject to sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, a person may only operate a CB station that:
	(a)	directly transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
	(i)	on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Schedule 1; and
	(ii)	subject to a restriction mentioned in the item; or
	(b)	through a CB repeater station, transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
	(i)	on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1; and
	(ii)	subject to a restriction mentioned in the item; or
	(c)	transmits data to communicate with another CB station:
	(i)	on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 6 in Schedule 1; and
	(ii)	subject to a restriction mentioned in the item.
Note   Operation of a CB station under this Class Licence is also subject to the provisions of the Act.  Substantial penalties apply to breaches of the Act.
6	Conditions — general
		A person must not:
	(a)	except in an emergency — operate a CB station on:
	(i)	carrier frequency 27.065 megahertz; or
	(ii)	carrier frequency 476.525 megahertz; or
	(iii)	carrier frequency 477.275 megahertz; or
Note   In an emergency mentioned in subsection 49 (1) of the Act, if a carrier frequency mentioned in this paragraph is not accessible, it is preferable that a carrier frequency mentioned in paragraph (b) should be used.
	(b)	except to initiate contact with another CB station — operate a CB station on:
	(i)	carrier frequency 27.085 megahertz; or
	(ii)	carrier frequency 27.155 megahertz; or
	(iii)	carrier frequency 476.675 megahertz; or
	(c)	use with a transmitter device that encrypts speech transmission in transmitting:
	(i)	a radio signal on a carrier frequency that is referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or
	(ii)	through a CB repeater station; or
	(d)	make an alteration to a CB station, or to accessory apparatus used in the operation of a CB station, that is likely to cause interference to radiocommunications, except:
	(i)	in accordance with a direction given under subparagraph 9 (2) (a) (i); or
	(ii)	with the consent in writing of an inspector who is reasonably satisfied that the alteration has been made to test the operation of the CB station; or
	(e)	operate a CB station to transmit on a carrier frequency mentioned in an item in Schedule 1 if the transmission will cause harmful interference to the operation of any other CB station on that carrier frequency; or
	(f)	operate a CB station:
	(i)	in a way that would be likely to cause a reasonable person, justifiably in all the circumstances, to be seriously alarmed or seriously affronted; or
	(ii)	for the purpose of harassing a person; or
	(g)	fail to comply with a direction given under section 9.
7	Operating a CB station to transmit audio tones
		A person, when operating a CB station to transmit audio tones for initiating communications with another CB station, must:
	(a)	on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 1, only transmit audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
	(b)	on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4 or 5 of Schedule 1, only transmit:
	(i)	audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
	(ii)	subaudible tones.
Note   Subaudible tones are used in continuous tone coded squelch systems (CTCSS).
8	Conditions relating to CB stations that operate through CB repeater stations
		A person must not:
	(a)	except for the purpose of operating through a CB repeater station, operate a CB station on a channel mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1 within the operational range of the CB repeater station; or
	(b)	transmit to a CB repeater station on a channel mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1 by a number from 1 to 8 (inclusive); or
	(c)	receive a transmission from a CB repeater station on a channel mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1 by a number from 31 to 38 (inclusive).
9	Directions
	(1)	A person must comply with a direction that:
	(a)	relates to the operation of a CB station by the person; and
	(b)	is given to the person by a person referred to in subsection (3); and
	(c)	is described in subsection (4).
	(2)	A person must comply with a direction that:
	(a)	relates to interference to radiocommunications that:
	(i)	is likely to be caused by the alteration, installation or maintenance of a CB station, or of accessory apparatus for use with a CB station, by the person; or
	(ii)	is, or is likely to be, caused by the operation of a CB station by the person; and
	(b)	is given to the person in writing by an inspector.
	(3)	For paragraph (1) (b), a direction may be given by any of the following persons acting in the performance of his or her duties:
	(a)	a member of the Australian Federal Police;
	(b)	a member of the police force of a State or Territory;
	(c)	an officer of the Defence Force;
	(d)	an officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority who is employed in the Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia (also known as ‘AusSAR’);
	(e)	an officer mentioned in Schedule 2 to the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.
	(4)	A direction that is referred to in subsection (1) must be reasonably necessary to:
	(a)	secure the safety of an aircraft or a vessel that is in danger; or
	(b)	deal with an emergency that involves a serious threat to the environment; or
	(c)	deal with an emergency that involves the risk of death of, or injury to, a person; or
	(d)	deal with an emergency that involves the risk of substantial damage to, or substantial loss of, property.
10	Technical requirements
		A person must not operate a CB station on a frequency mentioned in item 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Schedule 1 unless it complies with the requirements of the relevant document.
11	Standards
	(1)	If the device compliance day for the CB station is on or after 20 December 1996, the CB station must comply with the Radiocommunications Standard (HF CB and Handphone Radio Transmitters) No. 1 of 1996, as in force on 20 December 1996, or with the Radiocommunications Standard (UHF CB Radio Transmitters) No. 1 of 1996, as in force on 20 December 1996, whichever applies to the CB station.
	(2)	If the device compliance day for a CB station is on or after the day on which this Class Licence comes into force, the CB station must also comply with any other standard applicable to it as in force on that day.
Note 1   The ACA wishes to make it clear that if a standard mentioned in subsection (2) is amended or replaced by another standard after the device compliance day for the CB station, the CB station need not comply with the amended or replaced standard.
Note 2   Section 5 of the Act defines standard to mean a standard made under section 162 of the Act.

Schedule 1	CB station operational requirements
(sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10)
Part 1	HF

Item	Channel	Carrier Frequency (megahertz)	Restriction	
1	11	27.085	Operation of a CB station must only employ AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz.	
2	16	27.155	Operation of a CB station must only employ SSB modulation using:
	(a)	LSB; and
	(b)	a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX; and
	(c)	a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.	
3	1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21	26.965
26.975
26.985
27.005
27.015
27.025
27.035
27.055
27.065
27.075
27.105
27.115
27.125
27.135
27.165
27.175
27.185
27.205
27.215	Operation of a CB station must only employ:
(a)	AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz; or
	(b)	SSB modulation using USB or LSB with a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.	
3 (cont)	22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40	27.225
27.255
27.235
27.245
27.265
27.275
27.285
27.295
27.305
27.315
27.325
27.335
27.345
27.355
27.365
27.375
27.385
27.395
27.405		
Part 2	UHF
Item	Channel	Carrier Frequency (megahertz)	Restriction	
4	9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
39
40	476.625
476.650
476.675
476.700
476.725
476.750
476.775
476.800
476.825
476.850
476.875
476.900
476.925
477.000
477.025
477.050
477.075
477.100
477.125
477.150
477.375
477.400	Operation of a CB station must only employ FM or PM with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.	
5	1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8	476.425
476.450
476.475
476.500
476.525
476.550
476.575
476.600	Operation of a CB station must only employ FM or PM with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.	
	31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38	477.175
477.200
477.225
477.250
477.275
477.300
477.325
477.350		
6	22
23	476.950
476.975	A transmitter employed in a CB station:
	(a)	must operate with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts; and
	(b)	must not exceed an EIRP of 8.3 watts; and
	(c)	must operate with an occupied bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz; and
	(d)	must not exceed a carrier frequency error of ±3 kHz; and
	(e)	must not exceed an adjacent channel power of –22 dBm; and
	(f)	must not exceed a conducted spurious emission of –30 dBm; and
	(g)	must operate on a duty cycle of not more than 3 seconds in any period of 60 minutes; and
	(h)	must be fitted with a device that shuts the transmitter down after 3 minutes of continuous operation.
A receiver employed in a CB station must operate with a conducted spurious emission not exceeding
–57 dBm.
Note   The use of single frequency store and forward repeaters is permitted.	

Schedule 2	Documents
(section 3)
  
Item	Description of document	
1	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately-operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB 234’), published by the Postmaster-General’s Department in January 1972	
2	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately-operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB 234’), published by the Postmaster-General’s Department in January 1974	
3	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radio telephone service’ (also known as ‘RB 234A’), published by the Postmaster-General’s Department in January 1974	
4	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately-operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB 234’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in July 1976	
5	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radio telephone service’ (also known as ‘RB 234A’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1976	
6	‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radiotelephone services’ (also known as ‘RB 234B’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in December 1977	
7	‘Specification for 27 MHz radiotelephony equipment employed in the citizen band radio service’ (also known as ‘RB 249’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1978	
8	‘Specification for UHF radio equipment employed in the citizen band radio service’ (also known as ‘RB 250’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1978	
9	‘Specification for 40 channel 27 MHz radiotelephony equipment employed in the citizen band radiocommunication service’ (also known as ‘RB 249A’), published by the Department of Communications in December 1981	
10	‘Ministerial Standard 250’ (the standard for radiocommunications equipment used in the citizen band radio service and operating on frequencies exceeding 30 megahertz), published in the Gazette on 29 April 1988 (Statutory Rules 1988 No. 69), and as in force on 1 May 1988	
11	‘Ministerial Standard 312’ (the standard for radiocommunications equipment used in the citizen band radio service and operating on frequencies not exceeding 30 megahertz), published in the Gazette on 29 April 1988 (Statutory Rules 1988 No. 70), and as in force on 1 May 1988.