Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1992 - SECT 106

             (1)  The ACMA may determine in writing a price-based allocation system for allocating and/or issuing specified transmitter licences (other than licences issued under section 101A or NBS transmitter licences).

             (2)  A system so determined:

                     (a)  may apply generally or in respect of a particular area; and

                     (b)  may apply only in relation to a specified range of frequencies; and

                     (c)  may require payment of an application fee, but not a fee that would be such as to amount to taxation.

             (3)  A system so determined may:

                     (a)  impose limits on the number of transmitter licences that the ACMA may issue to:

                              (i)  any one person; or

                             (ii)  a specified person; or

                     (b)  impose limits on the number of transmitter licences that the ACMA may, in total, issue to the members of a specified group of persons.

Note:          Persons or groups may be specified by name, by inclusion in a specified class or in any other way.

             (4)  A limit imposed as mentioned in subsection (3) may be expressed to apply in relation to any or all of the following:

                     (a)  a specified part of the spectrum;

                     (b)  a specified area;

                     (c)  a specified population reach.

For example, a system might impose a limit of one transmitter licence per person in the band between 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz (inclusive) for a particular area. This subsection does not, by implication, limit subsection (3).

             (5)  A system so determined may provide that, if the issue of a licence is covered by section 153M (which deals with re-allocation of spectrum), the ACMA may defer the issue of the licence until the relevant frequencies become available as a result of the expiry, surrender or cancellation of one or more other apparatus licences that, under section 153D, are affected by the spectrum re-allocation declaration concerned.

          (5A)  A system so determined must provide that a person is not eligible to apply for a channel A datacasting transmitter licence unless the person meets specified requirements.

             (6)  A system so determined may require the ACMA to give specified information to the ACCC.

          (6A)  The ACMA must not issue a datacasting transmitter licence under a system so determined if the ACMA is satisfied that the issue of the licence would result in a breach of one or more of the BSA control rules.

             (7)  Subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), (5A), (6) and (6A) do not, by implication, limit subsection (1).

             (8)  The ACMA must not determine a system imposing a limit as mentioned in subsection (3) unless the ACMA is directed to do so by the Minister under subsection (9).

             (9)  The Minister may give written directions to the ACMA in relation to the exercise of the power to determine procedures imposing a limit as mentioned in subsection (3).

          (9A)  The Minister may give written directions to the ACMA in relation to the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (5A).

           (10)  A direction under subsection (9) or (9A) must be published in the Gazette .

           (11)  The ACMA must exercise its powers under subsection (1) in a manner consistent with directions given by the Minister under subsection (9) or (9A).

           (12)  Before determining a price-based allocation system under subsection (1), the ACMA must consult the ACCC about whether the procedures should include a requirement mentioned in subsection (6) and, if so, the nature of the requirement.

           (13)  If a transmitter licence is issued under a system so determined, the ACMA must publish in the Gazette :

                     (a)  the successful applicant's name; and

                     (b)  the amount that the applicant agreed to pay to the Commonwealth for issue of the licence.

           (14)  If:

                     (a)  a transmitter licence of a kind specified for the purposes of subsection (1) would authorise a person to operate a radiocommunications transmitter; and

                     (b)  this Act or any other law requires that a person operating a transmitter:

                              (i)  of that kind; or

                             (ii)  for a purpose for which the transmitter is to be used;

                            be within a specified class of persons;

the Minister may give the ACMA a written direction requiring the ACMA, in determining a price-based allocation system, to limit the persons eligible to apply for such a transmitter licence to:

                     (c)  persons within that specified class; or

                     (d)  persons not within, but eligible to be within, that class; or

                     (e)  persons within that class and persons not within, but eligible to be within, that class.

           (15)  The ACMA must comply with a direction under subsection (14).

           (16)  A direction under subsection (14) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 .

           (17)  Subsections (9) and (14) do not, by implication, limit the Minister's power to give directions otherwise than under those subsections.