Proposed changes for AM Broadcasting certification rules

When licences are created, or modified, in the AM Management Right, the Radiocommunications Act requires a technical assessment to be undertaken and a certificate issued by an Approved Radio Engineer (ARE). As band manager of the AM Management Right, the Ministry also requires AREs to adhere to the requirements published in the document ‘Spectrum Licence Certification Rules in Crown Management Rights’ (PIB 39).

The Ministry is proposing changes to section MF AM Sound Broadcasting Services in the PIB 39 publication. The changes are to night time interference rules and are to provide additional protection for licences that have a calculated Eu value below 74dBµV/m. The key changes are:

• Where the calculated Eu for a existing licence is below 74dBµV/m at the commencement date of Management Right 206, the cumulative effect of any new or modified licence shall not cause an increase to the calculated Eu by more than 0.5dB; and
• A new appendix that list all the licences at the commencement of Management Right 206 and their calculated Eu values at that time.

The Ministry would like to invite industry comment on the proposed changes. In making comments could you please include answers the following questions:

• Do you agree with the principal of providing additional protection to licences that have a calculated Eu of less than 74dBµV/m?
• Do you agree with the proposed changes to PIB 39?

Please also include your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with the changes.

Any comments are to be received by 5:00 pm, Friday, 13 May 2011. Submissions may be made by email to radiospectrum@med.govt.nz, or by post to:

Radio Licence Policy Rules
Radio Spectrum Policy & Planning
Ministry of Economic Development
P O Box 1473
Wellington 6140

Draft changes for MF- AM Sound Broadcasting Services certification rules [88 kB PDF]

The Ministry intend to include two other minor changes upon publication of Issue 5. The changes are:

• An update to the spectrum mask for digital television to reflect the change of the band in accordance with Cabinet Minute if Decision (CAB Min (09) 45/12); and
• A change to section 3.5 Fixed Wireless Access to indicate that ARE’s external to the Ministry can now certify licences and must consider the specific conditions of the licences