The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing that a new community service radio service be made available to serve the Perth city area.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing that a new community service radio service be made available to serve the Perth city area.
'Over a thousand letters have been received encouraging ACMA to consider making an additional community radio service available in Perth,' said Lyn Maddock, Acting ACMA Chair.
ACMA is also proposing to withdraw the availability of MF AM channel 1170 kHz for an open narrowcasting service in Perth, as the frequency is potentially suitable for future digital radio services in the south west of Western Australia.
'ACMA would be interested to hear from narrowcasting aspirants about any other AM options that may be available in Perth. These could include lower-power channels of less potential utility for digital radio services in regional areas,' Ms Maddock said.
The revised proposals are contained in an explanatory paper and revised draft variation to the Perth licence area plan released today.
Additional proposals included in the revised draft licence area plan relate to technical specifications for the 6IX Wanneroo translator; the technical specifications and licence area for community radio service 6TCR Wanneroo; and licence area updates for community radio services at Armadale, Fremantle and Kalamunda.
Before reaching a final decision on these proposals, ACMA is interested in receiving comments on the revised draft variation to the Perth radio licence area plan.
Those wishing to comment on the proposal can do so by 6 February 2006. A copy of the explanatory paper and draft licence area plan is available on the ACMA website or by calling Freecall 1800 810 241.
Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager on (02) 9334 7890.
Backgrounder
In September 2004, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) released a draft variation to the Perth radio licence area plan. The ABA proposed making available a new high power AM open narrowcasting service and proposed amendments to the technical specifications for radio services 6RPH, 6AR, 6NR, 6YMS, and 6PR.
At the annual ACMA Broadcasting Conference on 9 November 2005, Acting ACMA Chair Lyn Maddock announced that ACMA intends to consider release of further MF-AM band channels only after the utility of spectrum for future introduction of digital radio services is considered. An assessment of the frequency proposed in September 2004 for an additional high power open narrowcasting service (1170 kHz) reveals that this frequency is suitable for future digital radio service use in the south west of WA. The proposal to make an additional high power open narrowcasting service available in Perth has therefore been withdrawn at this time.
The September 2004 draft variation also proposed that a new permanent community radio licence would not be made available, but for the present time aspirant community broadcasters could continue on temporary community broadcasting licences.
The proposal has been reviewed and ACMA now proposes that a new permanent community service radio service be made available to serve the Perth city area. The service would use the frequency 90.5 MHz. In the meantime the two active aspirant community broadcasters Capital Community Radio and Western Sports Media will share this frequency until March 2006.
When the initial Perth radio licence area plan was determined in October 2001, technical specifications were included for a translator at Wanneroo for the licensee of commercial radio service 6IX Perth. Test transmissions of the 6IX Wanneroo translator service have caused interference to reception of the Network Ten commercial television service NEW Perth. The interference is proposed to be rectified by changing the signal polarisation from horizontal to vertical. A slight change of radiation pattern to improve coverage to the suburbs of Scarborough, Whitfords and Warwick (to the south west of the translator) is also proposed.
The licensee of 6TCR Wanneroo has requested an extension of its licence area to include all of the City of Wanneroo and the City of Joondalup. The current 6TCR licence area does not include a substantial northern part and small southern part of the City of Wanneroo, as well as a small part of the City of Joondalup to the south-east. No other local community radio service is situated in either of the City of Wanneroo or the City of Joondalup. 6TCR also requested an increase in power to the north to enable it to provide coverage to all of the City of Wanneroo. As there is some potential for the proposed power increase to cause interference to reception of the Seven network digital television service on channel 6, 6TCR will be required to conduct test transmissions and rectify interference that may result from the power increase
