Broadcasting 009 - Licence Variations Involving Decreases In Power

Licence Variations Involving Decreases In Power

1. Policy

Certain criteria must be met before reductions in power are facilitated. Licensees however would still be free to operate at a lower power than the specified maximum. Any temporary variation that involves a decrease in population coverage shall be permitted only where the population covered under the temporary licence is entirely a subset of the population covered under the original licence. The spectrum temporarily foregone by the reduction in coverage may be utilised by others where practical (through the creating of "fixed term temporary licences").

2. Specific Criteria

The total population coverage is not significantly reduced; or

The total population coverage is reduced (for example, to facilitate pocket coverage) but the reduction enhances the potential for flexibility in other existing and new licences; or

Commercial reasons, other than a reduction in Annual Fees can be substantiated by the applicant (although a reduction in fees may be consequential).

3. Background

There is a concern that the stepwise nature of the annual fees payable under the Third Schedule to the Radiocommunications (Fees) Regulations 1993 may actually be providing an incentive for licensees to seek power reductions simply to reduce the fee payable. In addition to raising administrative difficulties, this is not consistent in terms of compromised and that reductions in power are obtained for commercial reasons. Any spectrum foregone by the reduction in coverage may be utilised by others where practical.



Approved By:

Manager
Radio Spectrum Policy.