Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01248
Timestamp: 2020-01-24 00:09:00
Document Index: 160107384

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5']

Broadcasting Services (Transmitter Access) Regulations 2019
Details: F2019L01248
- F2019L01248
These regulations relate to exemptions to, and the arbitration of disputes by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the ACCC) in relation to, access to broadcasting transmission towers and designated associated facilities under various provisions within the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
F2019L01248
Part 2—Access to designated associated facilities
Part 3—Arbitration
Part 2—Access to designated associated facilities 3
6............ Exemptions from obligation to give access.................................................................... 3
Part 3—Arbitration 5
Division 1—General 5
7............ Purpose and application of this Part.............................................................................. 5
8............ Notification of disputes................................................................................................. 5
9............ Determination by ACCC............................................................................................... 6
10.......... Matters to be taken into account.................................................................................... 7
11.......... Withdrawal of notifications........................................................................................... 8
12.......... When ACCC may terminate arbitration......................................................................... 9
Division 2—Conduct of arbitration 10
13.......... Conduct of arbitration.................................................................................................. 10
14.......... Constitution of ACCC for arbitration.......................................................................... 10
15.......... Reconstitution of ACCC for arbitration....................................................................... 10
16.......... Determination of matters............................................................................................. 11
Division 3—Powers of ACCC in conducting arbitration 12
17.......... Power to refer matters and give directions................................................................... 12
18.......... Power to require person to give information or produce documents........................... 12
19.......... Power to summon person to give evidence and produce documents........................... 12
Division 4—Arbitration hearings 14
20.......... Conduct of arbitration hearings................................................................................... 14
21.......... Arbitration hearings to be in private............................................................................ 14
22.......... Right to representation................................................................................................. 14
23.......... Evidence on oath or affirmation................................................................................... 14
Division 5—Joint arbitration of disputes 15
24.......... When joint arbitration may be conducted..................................................................... 15
25.......... Procedure in joint arbitration....................................................................................... 15
26.......... Determination of disputes............................................................................................ 15
Division 6—Offences 17
27.......... Contravention of a direction........................................................................................ 17
28.......... Failure to comply with notice to give information or produce documents................... 17
29.......... Offences by witnesses................................................................................................. 17
30.......... Intimidation etc............................................................................................................ 18
31.......... Disturbing an arbitration hearing etc............................................................................ 18
Division 7—Miscellaneous 19
32.......... Parties may request ACCC to treat material as confidential......................................... 19
33.......... Parties to pay costs of arbitration................................................................................. 19
Part 4—Application, saving and transitional provisions 20
34.......... Definitions................................................................................................................... 20
35.......... Transitional—disputes notified before commencement............................................... 20
Schedule 1—Form of summons 21
Schedule 2—Repeals 22
Broadcasting Services (Transmitter Access) Regulations 2001 22
This instrument is the Broadcasting Services (Transmitter Access) Regulations 2019.
This instrument is made under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
(c) broadcasting transmission tower;
(d) designated associated facility;
(f) giving access.
determination means a written determination made by the ACCC under subsection 9(1).
dispute means a dispute notified under subsection 8(1).
6 Exemptions from obligation to give access
(1) For the purposes of subclause 45A(9) of Schedule 4 to the Act, the owner or operator of a designated associated facility is not required to give an access seeker access to the designated associated facility if subsection (2) or (4) applies.
Note: For the obligation to give access, see subclauses 45A(2) and (4) of Schedule 4 to the Act.
Giving access would have certain effects
(2) This subsection applies if giving access would:
(a) prevent a person covered by subsection (3) from obtaining a sufficient amount of a service provided by means of the designated associated facility to be able to meet the person’s reasonably anticipated requirements, measured at the time the request for access was made; or
(b) prevent any person from obtaining, by the exercise of a right under a contract or determination in force at the time the request for access is made, a sufficient level of access to a service provided by means of the designated associated facility to be able to meet the person’s actual requirements; or
(c) deprive any person of a right under a contract that was in force on 10 May 2000.
(3) A person is covered by this subsection if the person is:
(a) the owner or operator of the designated associated facility; or
(b) a customer of the owner or operator who, at the time the request is made, has access to, or a right to access, the designated associated facility.
Access seeker would fail in certain respects
(4) This subsection applies if there are reasonable grounds to believe that, if access were given, the access seeker:
(b) would fail to protect:
(ii) the continuity of a broadcasting service; or
(iii) the safety of individuals working on, or using services supplied by means of, a telecommunications network or facility.
(5) Examples of reasonable grounds for believing the matter mentioned in paragraph (4)(a) include:
7 Purpose and application of this Part
(a) is made for the purposes of subclause 47(3) of Schedule 4 to the Act; and
(b) provides for and in relation to the conduct of an arbitration by the ACCC under clause 47 of that Schedule.
8 Notification of disputes
(1) An access seeker or access provider may notify the ACCC in writing that a dispute exists if the access seeker and access provider are unable to agree about the terms and conditions on which access is, or is to be, given to:
Example: An access seeker and access provider are unable to agree about:
(a) the price, or the method establishing the price, at which access is to be provided; or
(b) whether a previous determination should be varied.
(a) the name of the person notifying the dispute (the notifier) and, if the notifier is not an individual, the name and address of an individual who represents the notifier;
(b) the notifier’s address for the delivery of documents in relation to the notification;
(c) whether the notifier is the access seeker or access provider;
(d) if the notifier is the access seeker—the name and address of the access provider;
(e) if the notifier is the access provider—the name and address of the access seeker;
(ii) each aspect of the terms and conditions on which the access seeker and access provider are able to agree; and
(iii) each aspect of the terms and conditions on which the access seeker and access provider are unable to agree;
(h) a description of any effort that has been made to resolve the dispute, including efforts to appoint an arbitrator in accordance with paragraph 47(1)(b), 47(1A)(b) or 47(2)(b) of Schedule 4 to the Act;
(i) if the parties have failed to agree on the appointment of an arbitrator—confirmation of the failure to agree;
(j) any other information that the notifier considers relevant (such as the name and address of a person that the notifier considers may have an interest in the dispute).
(3) A contravention of subsection (2) does not affect the validity of a notification.
(4) When the ACCC receives the notification, it must give written notice of the dispute as follows:
(a) if the access seeker notified the dispute—to the access provider;
(b) if the access provider notified the dispute—to the access seeker;
(c) if the ACCC considers that the determination of the dispute may affect another person (whether or not the determination would require the other person to do something)—to the other person;
(d) to any other person whom the ACCC considers may wish to become a party to the arbitration of the dispute.
(5) Each of the following is a party to the arbitration of the dispute:
(a) the access seeker;
(b) the access provider;
(c) a person to whom paragraph (4)(c) applies;
(d) any other person who applies in writing to be made a party to the arbitration and is accepted by the ACCC as having a sufficient interest.
9 Determination by ACCC
Power to make determination
(1) The ACCC must make a written determination of the terms and conditions of access.
(2) The determination may deal with any matter relating to access, including matters that were not the basis for the notification of the dispute.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the determination may:
(a) require the access provider to give the access seeker access to a broadcasting transmission tower, designated associated facility or site;
(b) require the access seeker to accept, and pay for, access to a broadcasting transmission tower, designated associated facility or site;
(c) specify the terms and conditions on which the access provider is to comply with any or all of the obligations under clauses 45, 45A and 46 of Schedule 4 to the Act that are applicable to the access provider;
(d) specify any other terms and conditions on which the access seeker is given access;
(e) require a party to the arbitration of the dispute to extend or enhance the capability of a broadcasting transmission tower, designated associated facility or site;
(f) specify the extent to which the determination varies an earlier determination made under this section.
(4) The determination must not require the access provider to give access if the requirement is already imposed by Part 5 of Schedule 4 to the Act or any other law of the Commonwealth.
(5) If the arbitration relates to a designated associated facility—the determination must not:
(a) be inconsistent with an exemption mentioned in section 6; or
(c) require a party to the arbitration of the dispute (other than the access seeker) to bear some or all of the costs of:
(6) Before making the determination, the ACCC must give a draft of the determination to each party to the arbitration of the dispute.
(7) When the ACCC makes the determination, it must:
(a) give a copy of the determination to each party to the arbitration of the dispute; and
(b) include the reasons for the determination.
Withdrawal of notification or termination of arbitration
(8) To avoid doubt, the ACCC is not required to make a written determination of the terms and conditions of access if:
(a) notification of the dispute is withdrawn under section 11; or
(b) the ACCC terminates the arbitration of the dispute under section 12.
10 Matters to be taken into account
(1) The ACCC must take the following matters into account in making the determination:
(f) the value to a party to the arbitration of the dispute of:
(g) whether the determination will promote the objects set out in paragraphs 3(1)(a), (aa), (b) and (ba) of the Act.
11 Withdrawal of notifications
(1) A notification of the dispute under subsection 8(1) may only be withdrawn:
(a) by the person who notified the dispute; and
(b) before the ACCC makes its determination on the dispute.
(2) The withdrawal of the notification must:
(a) be given in writing to the ACCC; and
(i) the name of the person withdrawing the notification;
(ii) whether the person is the access seeker or access provider;
(iii) a short description of the dispute.
(3) The person withdrawing the notification must give a copy of the withdrawal to:
(a) if the person is the access seeker—the access provider; or
(b) if the person is the access provider—the access seeker.
(4) The withdrawal of the notification takes effect when the withdrawal is received by the ACCC.
(5) The ACCC must give a copy of the withdrawal to:
(a) each person to whom the ACCC gave notice of the dispute under subsection 8(4); and
(b) if any person who is a party to the arbitration of the dispute (other than the person withdrawing the notification) was not given notice under that subsection—each such person.
12 When ACCC may terminate arbitration
(1) The ACCC may terminate an arbitration of a dispute (without making a determination) if it considers that:
(c) a party to the arbitration has not engaged in negotiations in relation to the dispute in good faith; or
(d) the access that is the subject of the dispute should continue to be provided under an existing arrangement between the access seeker and access provider.
(2) In addition, if the dispute is about varying an earlier determination, the ACCC may terminate the arbitration if it considers that there is no sufficient reason why that determination should not continue to have effect.
Division 2—Conduct of arbitration
13 Conduct of arbitration
(1) The ACCC may conduct an arbitration of a dispute:
(a) on the papers; or
(b) by holding an arbitration hearing; or
(c) in part on the papers and in part by holding an arbitration hearing.
Note: See section 24 for when the ACCC may conduct a joint arbitration.
(2) In conducting an arbitration of a dispute, the ACCC:
(b) must act as speedily as a proper consideration of the dispute allows, having regard to the need to inquire into and investigate carefully and quickly the dispute and all matters affecting the merits, and a fair settlement, of the dispute; and
(c) may inform itself of any matter relevant to the dispute in any way it considers appropriate.
(3) The ACCC may determine the periods that are reasonably necessary for the fair and adequate presentation of the respective cases of the parties, and may require that their cases be presented within those periods.
14 Constitution of ACCC for arbitration
(1) For the purposes of an arbitration of a dispute, the ACCC may be constituted by one or more members of the ACCC nominated in writing by the Chairperson of the ACCC.
(2) If the Chairperson nominates 2 or more members under subsection (1), the Chairperson must nominate one of the members to preside at the arbitration.
(3) A member of the ACCC is not disqualified from constituting the ACCC (alone or with other members) for the purposes of an arbitration of a dispute about a particular matter merely because the member has performed functions, or exercised powers, in relation to the matter or a related matter.
15 Reconstitution of ACCC for arbitration
(1) This section applies if a member constituting, or who is one of the members constituting, the ACCC for the purposes of an arbitration of a dispute:
(b) is not available for the purposes of the arbitration for any reason.
(2) The Chairperson must, for the purposes of the arbitration, direct that:
(a) if only one member constituted the ACCC—another member is to constitute the ACCC; or
(b) if more than one member constituted the ACCC—the ACCC is to be constituted by:
(i) the remaining member or members; or
(ii) one or more other members, together with the remaining member or members.
(3) The ACCC must continue and finish the arbitration in accordance with the direction.
(4) In conducting the arbitration, the ACCC may have regard to any record of the proceedings of the arbitration made by the ACCC as previously constituted.
16 Determination of matters
If the ACCC is constituted by 2 or more members for the purposes of an arbitration of a dispute, a matter must be decided:
(a) according to the opinion of the majority of those members; or
(b) if the members are evenly divided on the question—according to the opinion of the member who is presiding.
Division 3—Powers of ACCC in conducting arbitration
17 Power to refer matters and give directions
The ACCC may do any of the following for the purposes of an arbitration of a dispute:
(a) refer any matter to an expert and accept the expert’s report as evidence;
(b) direct a party to the arbitration to conduct research or investigations to obtain relevant information;
(c) direct a person who is, or was, a party to the arbitration to give relevant information to one or more other parties;
(d) direct a person not to divulge, or communicate to anyone else, stated information that was given to the person for the purposes of the arbitration unless the person is permitted to do so by the ACCC;
(e) give any other such direction, and do any such thing, as is necessary or expedient to make a determination.
Note: A person may commit an offence if the person does an act, or omits to do an act, that contravenes a direction under any of paragraphs (b) to (e) (see section 27).
18 Power to require person to give information or produce documents
(1) The ACCC may give a notice to a person under subsection (2) if the ACCC has reason to believe that the person has information, or a document, relevant to an arbitration of a dispute.
(2) The ACCC may, by written notice given to the person, require the person:
(a) to give any such information to the ACCC; or
(b) to produce any such document to the ACCC;
for the purposes of the arbitration.
(b) specify the manner in which the person is required to comply with the notice; and
(c) state the effect of section 28 (offence for failure to comply with a notice).
Note: A person may commit an offence if the person fails to comply with a notice (see section 28).
19 Power to summon person to give evidence and produce documents
(1) The member of the ACCC who is presiding at an arbitration of a dispute may, for the purposes of the arbitration, summon a person to:
(a) attend before the ACCC to give evidence; and
(b) produce such documents (if any) as are referred to in the summons.
(2) A summons must be in the form set out in Schedule 1.
(3) A summons must be served on a person by:
(a) delivering a copy of the summons to the person personally; and
(b) showing the original of the summons to the person when the copy is delivered to the person.
Note: A person may commit an offence if the person fails to comply with a summons (see section 29).
Division 4—Arbitration hearings
20 Conduct of arbitration hearings
(1) The ACCC may do any of the following things for the purposes of an arbitration hearing:
(a) require evidence or argument to be presented in writing;
(b) decide the matters on which it will hear oral evidence or argument;
(c) hear and determine the dispute in the absence of a person who has been summoned to attend before the ACCC;
(e) adjourn to any time and place.
(2) The ACCC may determine that an arbitration hearing is to be conducted by:
21 Arbitration hearings to be in private
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an arbitration hearing is to be conducted in private.
(2) If the parties to an arbitration of a dispute agree, an arbitration hearing, or part of an arbitration hearing, may be conducted in public.
(3) The member of the ACCC who is presiding at an arbitration hearing conducted in private may give written directions about the persons who may be present at the hearing.
(4) In giving directions under subsection (3), the member presiding must have regard to the wishes of the parties to the arbitration and the need for commercial confidentiality.
22 Right to representation
A party to an arbitration of a dispute may appear in person at an arbitration hearing, or be represented by someone else.
23 Evidence on oath or affirmation
The ACCC may take evidence on oath or affirmation at an arbitration hearing and, for that purpose, a member of the ACCC may administer the oath or affirmation.
Division 5—Joint arbitration of disputes
24 When joint arbitration may be conducted
(a) the ACCC is arbitrating 2 or more disputes at a particular time; and
(b) one or more matters are common to those disputes;
the Chairperson of the ACCC may, by notice in writing, decide that the ACCC must conduct a joint arbitration of such of those disputes (the nominated disputes) as are specified in the notice.
(2) The Chairperson may decide that the ACCC must conduct a joint arbitration of the nominated disputes only if the Chairperson considers this would be likely to result in the nominated disputes being resolved in a more efficient and timely manner.
(3) Before deciding that the ACCC must conduct a joint arbitration of the nominated disputes, the Chairperson must give each party to the arbitration of each nominated dispute a notice in writing:
(a) specifying what the Chairperson is proposing to do; and
(b) inviting the party to make a written submission on the proposal to the Chairperson within 14 days after the notice is given.
(4) The Chairperson must have regard to any submission so made in deciding whether the ACCC must conduct a joint arbitration of the nominated disputes. The Chairperson may have regard to any other matter the Chairperson considers relevant.
25 Procedure in joint arbitration
(1) Sections 13 to 23 and 27 to 33 apply to the joint arbitration in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to a particular arbitration.
(2) The Chairperson of the ACCC may, for the purposes of the conduct of the joint arbitration, give written directions to the member of the ACCC presiding at the arbitration.
(3) The ACCC as constituted for the purposes of the joint arbitration of 2 or more disputes may have regard to any record of the proceedings of the arbitration of any of those disputes.
26 Determination of disputes
(1) The ACCC as constituted for the purposes of the joint arbitration of 2 or more disputes may make a single determination that covers all of the disputes.
(2) If the ACCC does not make a single determination that covers all of the disputes, the ACCC as constituted for the purposes of the arbitration of each dispute may, for the purposes of making a determination of the dispute:
(a) have regard to any record of the proceedings of the joint arbitration; and
(b) adopt any findings of fact made by the ACCC as constituted for the purposes of the joint arbitration.
Note: See also sections 9 and 10 in relation to the making of determinations.
27 Contravention of a direction
(a) the person is given a direction under any of paragraphs 17(b) to (e); and
(b) the person contravenes the direction.
28 Failure to comply with notice to give information or produce documents
(a) the person is given a notice under section 18; and
29 Offences by witnesses
(a) the person is served with a summons under section 19 to attend before the ACCC to give evidence; and
(b) the person has not been excused, or released from further attendance, by a member of the ACCC; and
(c) the person fails to attend as required by the summons.
Failure to answer questions etc.
(i) the person fails to be sworn or to make an affirmation; or
(ii) the person fails to answer a question that the person is required to answer by the ACCC.
(a) the person is served with a summons under section 19 to produce a document; and
(b) the person fails to produce the document as required by the summons.
30 Intimidation etc.
(a) the first person engages in conduct that:
(i) threatens, intimidates or coerces another person; or
(ii) causes damage, disadvantage or loss to another person; and
(b) the first person does so because the other person:
(i) has attended, or proposes to attend, before the ACCC to give evidence at an arbitration hearing; or
(ii) has produced, or proposes to produce, a document to the ACCC.
(2) Strict liability applies to the physical element in paragraph (1)(b) that the other person:
(a) has attended, or proposes to attend, before the ACCC to give evidence at an arbitration hearing; or
(b) has produced, or proposes to produce, a document to the ACCC.
31 Disturbing an arbitration hearing etc.
(a) insults, disturbs or uses insulting language towards a member of the ACCC who is exercising powers, or performing functions or duties, as a member of the ACCC for the purposes of an arbitration hearing; or
(b) interrupts an arbitration hearing; or
(c) creates a disturbance, or participates in creating or continuing a disturbance, in a place where an arbitration hearing is being conducted.
32 Parties may request ACCC to treat material as confidential
(1) A party to an arbitration of a dispute may:
(a) inform the ACCC that, in the opinion of the party, a stated part of a document contains confidential commercial information; and
(b) request the ACCC not to give a copy of that part of the document to another party to the arbitration.
(2) On receiving the request, the ACCC must:
(a) inform the other party that the request has been made and of the general nature of the matters to which the relevant part of the document relates; and
(b) ask the other party whether that party objects to the ACCC complying with the request.
(3) If the other party objects, that party may inform the ACCC of its objection and of the reasons for it.
(4) The ACCC may decide not to give to the other party a copy of so much of the document as contains confidential commercial information that the ACCC considers should not be given after considering:
(c) any further submissions that any party has made in relation to the request.
33 Parties to pay costs of arbitration
(a) charge the persons who are, or were, parties to an arbitration of a dispute for the ACCC’s costs in conducting the arbitration; and
(b) apportion the amount of the charge between those persons.
commencement means the day this instrument commences.
old law means the Broadcasting Services (Transmitter Access) Regulations 2001, as in force immediately before commencement.
35 Transitional—disputes notified before commencement
Despite the repeal of the old law by Schedule 2 to this instrument, the old law continues to apply in relation to a dispute if, immediately before commencement:
(a) notification of the dispute had been given to the ACCC; and
(b) a withdrawal of the notification of the dispute had not been received by the ACCC; and
(c) the arbitration of the dispute had not been terminated by the ACCC; and
(d) a determination of the dispute had not been made.
Note: See subsection 19(2).
1. You are summoned to attend before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, [insert address], for an arbitration hearing in this matter on [insert date] at [insert time] and then from day to day until the hearing is completed or until you are released from further attendance.
2. You are required to attend before the Commission to give evidence at the hearing.
*3. You are required to bring with you and produce the following documents: [set out the documents required]
*omit, if inapplicable