Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2008C00330:clause:1_44a:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2008C00330
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 1 cl 44A (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 77931–80691

44A  Preparation of digital radio channel plans

 (1) Before issuing the first digital radio multiplex transmitter licence for a designated BSA radio area, the ACMA must, by legislative instrument, prepare a plan that:
 (a) allots a frequency channel or channels in relation to the designated BSA radio area for use by digital radio multiplex transmitter licensees, where each allotted frequency channel has a bandwidth of at least 1.536 MHz; and
 (b) reserves a frequency channel of at least 1.536 MHz bandwidth for a category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence for the designated BSA radio area to be issued in accordance with subsection 102E(2); and
 (c) determines which of the following types of licences, or which combination of the following types of licences, are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area:
 (i) category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;
 (ii) category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence; and
 (d) if a particular type of licence mentioned in paragraph (c) is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area—determines whether:
 (i) a single licence of that type is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; or
 (ii) 2 or more licences of that type are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; and
 (e) determines technical specifications of multiplex transmitters operated under digital radio multiplex transmitter licences for the designated BSA radio area.

 (2) The plan must be consistent with:
 (a) the spectrum plan; and
 (b) any relevant frequency band plans; and
 (c) any relevant frequency allotment plans prepared under section 25 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992; and
 (d) any relevant licence area plans prepared under section 26 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992; and
 (e) any relevant digital channel plans (within the meaning of clause 7A of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) made under the commercial television conversion scheme; and
 (f) any relevant digital channel plans (within the meaning of clause 22A of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) made under the national television conversion scheme.

 (3) A plan under subsection (1) is to be known as the digital radio channel plan for the designated BSA radio area.

 (4) A copy of a digital radio channel plan is to be made available on the ACMA's Internet site.

Consultation

 (5) Before preparing a plan under subsection (1), the ACMA must:
 (a) publish a draft of the plan on the ACMA's Internet site; and
 (b) invite members of the public to make submissions to the ACMA about the draft plan within a specified period of at least 30 days; and
 (c) consider any submissions the ACMA receives from members of the public within that period.

Variation of digital radio