The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has amended the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination 2015 with the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Omnibus Amendment Instrument 2023.
The now-in-force Omnibus Act grants Standard licensed amateurs and overseas equivalents access to the 50–52 MHz frequency band, formerly used for television station channel 0 and translator TV transmissions during analogue television transmission days.
The amendment also removes access to the 3.4–3.6 GHz frequency band for Advanced amateurs and overseas equivalents.
The Federal Register of Legislation states this amendment is now in force, effective July 13, allowing Standard amateur licensees access to the 50-52MHz portion of the 6-metre radio band.
The ACMA only received six submissions from amateurs, including a confidential one. “The majority of submissions supported the proposed changes,” the ACMA stated in a press release.
The Wireless Institute of Australia incorrectly states on its website the changes are ‘proposed.’
The Federal Register of Legislation – shown above – is listed as currently “in force,” meaning the amended Omnibus Act applied from one past midnight last Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Submissions made are available here.
Standard licensed amateurs can now operate within the Amateur LCD (Standard) on the 50-52MHz portion of the 6-metre band.
