Trevor Hawkins M5AKA

Digital Radio - a threat to Six Metre harmonisation?

Australian Amateurs currently have 50-52 MHz available on a secondary basis - TV Broadcasting is Primary. It had looked as through this allocation would be freed up by TV Broadcasting and become a Primary Amateur Aloocation (as is 52-54) but it now seems 45-52 MHz is one of the allocations being considered by the Australian regulatory body for Digital Radio broadcasting.

73 Trevor M5AKA

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has released a discussion paper inviting submissions on the merits of placing restrictions on the planning and allocation of broadcasting services in certain frequency bands that may
be suitable for digital radio.

Digital radio candidate bands discussed in the ABA's discussion paper include:

VHF Band III (174-230 MHz);
the medium frequency (MF) band (526.5-1606.5 kHz); and
VHF Band I (45-52 MHz and 56-70 MHz).

For digital radio to be introduced, a pre-requisite is the availability of suitable spectrum. Different digital radio technologies require different frequency bands and the candidate bands are already extensively used. In most cases, they are also under continuing demand for other services, especially analog radio and digital television.

Restrictions on the planning and allocation of broadcasting services in certain digital radio candidate bands could prevent or limit the introduction of additional analog radio in some areas and could also affect future digital television services.

The ABA will merge with the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) by 1 July 2005 forming the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Given the timing, it will be for ACMA to consider the submissions prior to making any decisions on this issue.

Copies of the discussion paper are available from the ABA's website at http;//www.aba.gov.au or by calling Freecall 1800 810 241. The closing date for submissions is 27 June 2005.

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