Consultation on new Spectrum legislation

The Australian Government has released a consultation package on proposed reforms to modernise and simplify Australia’s spectrum management framework. We have extended the timeframe for submissions to the first stage of consultation until Friday 28 July 2017, 5:00pm.

We are undertaking the first of a two-stage consultation process on draft new legislative arrangements required to implement the reforms. This first stage of consultation seeks stakeholder views on the exposure draft of the new legislation and the approaches to broadcasting and transitional arrangements. Submissions from stakeholders will be used to inform the drafting of the Bill, including provisions on broadcasting, and will be instrumental in developing the Transitional and Consequential Amendments Bill (T&C Bill). 

The first consultation package includes: 

• an exposure draft of the new legislation
• an information paper describing the major changes from the 1992 Act in the new legislation
• consultation papers on the policy approach to broadcasting provisions and transitional arrangements
• supporting papers produced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).  

It is anticipated that the second consultation stage on the legislation will include the revised Radiocommunications Bill, the T&C Bill and the Radiocommunications Licence Tax Bill. 

The consultation package also includes proposals for spectrum pricing and the management of Commonwealth held spectrum.  You can also have your say on these proposals. No further consultation on spectrum pricing or Commonwealth held spectrum is expected.

ACMA supporting papers 

The ACMA has developed supporting materials for the consultation. These papers are intended to provide stakeholders with a greater understanding of how the ACMA envisages key aspects of the Bill may operate, should the Bill be enacted, in order to facilitate consideration of the exposure draft of the Bill.

The ACMA’s supporting material cannot and does not fetter the Authority’s discretion in the making of future decisions about the matters discussed in this material or any other matter.  The ACMA has a particular interest in the views of stakeholders that could inform its approach to transitioning to and implementing the reformed legislation. You can submit your feedback through this consultation page.

More information on these papers is available on the ACMA website