Next stage of spectrum reform to commence
The Government has announced its response to the Spectrum Review undertaken by the Department of Communications, in conjunction with the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
The Government has considered and agreed to implement the recommendations of the Spectrum Review.
Spectrum is a critical enabler of Australia’s current and future communications infrastructure. However, the legislative framework for managing spectrum in Australia has become outdated. Change is required to enable industry and consumers to make the most of the spectrum.
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Implementing the review’s recommendations will reduce the regulatory burden on spectrum users by making interactions with the framework, including allocation processes, simpler and faster.
The reforms will put in place arrangements that can meet the future demands of spectrum users. The framework will be simpler, more efficient, flexible and sustainable to support new and innovative technologies and services while providing certainty of spectrum access rights for users.
The Government will implement the three main recommendations of the review:
- Replace the current legislative arrangements with new legislation that removes prescriptive process and streamlines licensing, for a simpler and more flexible framework.
- Better integrate the management of public sector and broadcasting spectrum to improve the consistency and integrity of the framework.
- Review spectrum pricing to ensure consistent and transparent arrangements to support the efficient use of spectrum and secondary markets.
The Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders and implement revised spectrum arrangements and expects the new framework to commence from mid-2017.
An implementation timeline and transitional arrangements for stakeholders is at Attachment A.
ATTACHMENT A
Implementation timeline and transitional arrangements
Implementation of the Spectrum Review recommendations will be staged over a number of years, reflecting the scope and impacts of reform for spectrum users and the Commonwealth. Introducing the new spectrum framework will involve ongoing, close consultation to maintain certainty and support stakeholders during the transition.
Key implementation milestones
The timeline below is indicative and will be kept under review as implementation progresses.
| Work stream | Key milestones |
| Primary legislation development and introduction | October 2015 – consult on draft legislative proposalsDecember 2015 – consult on Exposure Draft of new legislation
Autumn sittings 2016 – introduce Bill |
| Ministerial policy statement on implementation of new framework | Early 2016 – consult on draft policy statementMid-2016 – policy statement issued following passage of legislation |
| ACMA annual work program on implementation of new framework and ongoing allocation/reallocation processes | Early 2016 – consult on draft annual work programMid to late 2016 – first annual work program released following issue of Ministerial policy statement |
| Single licensing system development and rollout
Ministerial policy statement on implementation of single licensing system
Development of subordinate regulation
|
Ministerial policy statement Early 2016 – consult on draft policy statement
Mid to late 2016 – policy statement issued following passage of legislation Subordinate regulation December 2015 – release sample licences with Exposure Draft of legislation Mid to late 2016 – consult on draft licensing instruments, following passage of legislation and issue of policy statement From mid-2017 – commence progressive implementation of new licensing system |
| Pricing review | Mid-2015 – commence review of spectrum pricingMid-2016 – report back to Government on outcomes of review of spectrum pricing
Mid-2017 – commence new pricing arrangements along with commencement of new licensing system |
| Commonwealth spectrum | Mid-2015 – commence work on policy arrangements for Commonwealth spectrum useMid-2016 – report back to Government identifying policy and financial arrangements for Commonwealth spectrum use |
| Allocation processes, technical regulation and compliance and enforcement | Early 2017 – consult on new processes and instrumentsMid-2017 – commence progressive implementation of these elements of the framework |
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