A review and subsequent update to the Radiocommunications Act 1992 is just around the corner. Sean Carroll looks at why these changes are coming, and what it could mean for cablers.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is currently reviewing the Radiocommunications Act 1992, looking at how the modernisation of our digital technologies has impacted legislation and what changes need to be made.

In Australia, the regulatory arrangements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of equipment are governed by the Radiocommunications Act. This covers all equipment that can emit electrical energy, including internal combustion engines, household appliances, electronic toys, lighting and IT equipment.

The Act was put forward for review by then-Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull years ago. At the time, ACMA was looking at a full rewrite, but a lack of resources led to that fizzling out and here we are, reviewing the Act in 2024.

The review and possible rewrite aim to ensure that the Act remains effective for the current electromagnetic environment and is durable enough to accommodate anticipated future developments.

“Technology is advancing so quickly that regulators need to make sure that the rules cover these advancements in technology so that work can be performed by competent professionals in a safe manner,” Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS) director Peter Lamont explains.

“One of the areas where ACMA has identified the need to develop adequate legislative controls relates to the EMC of motor vehicles. Since the original Radiocommunications Act was written, there has been a plethora of devices in vehicles that emit electrical energy, including radio transmitters, sensors, radar, lidar, electronic control units, microprocessors and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. None of this was considered when the Act was legislated.”

Australian Radio Communications Industry Association (ARCIA) chief executive, Paul Davis, agrees and says that the development of the ‘digital world’ is a prime mover for changing the Act.

“Additionally, the fact that Australia has become, to a large extent, a ‘technology importer’ with little local manufacturing happening in the modern world has pushed a review. The change of telecommunications systems from wireline connectivity to cellular technology and the development of 3G, 4G and 5G means that there’s a merging of radiocommunications and telecommunications technologies,” Paul says.

He adds that a review to the act will modernise and simplify how the electromagnetic spectrum is managed without imposing too many restrictions on the way things have been done for the past 30-plus years or the implementation of newer technologies through potentially restrictive regulations.

Another potential impetus for the review of the Act is the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia.

Peter says that EVs add complexities that simply weren’t envisaged when the Act was first written, particularly with EMC limits on EV chargers themselves.

“While an individual EV charger already has some coverage, there is currently no legislative mechanism that can guide the management of EMC controls in situations where you have cumulative emissions occurring from multiple EV chargers that are close to each other,” he explains.

“This can lead to considerable risks of interference between chargers or with other equipment, resulting in some equipment not working as it is intended.”

Paul did seek to temper the impact of EVs on the Radiocommunications Act, adding that while EV chargers will cause some issues, they’re not covered in the ACMA EMC remit.

“From an EV perspective, there is little or no impact, however, I’m not sure what the impact might be for installing and operating two-way radio equipment in EVs,” he says.

For electricians and cablers working on the tools, the potential changes following the review are unclear at the moment, but groups like the cabling registrars (ACRS, BRCA, TITAB, FPAA and ASIAL) and contracting associations like NECA are well placed to provide any educational materials necessary.

“With the review, I’d like to see a greater clarification of the rules for industry and how they can be implemented and adhered to in regard to EMC compatibility,” Peter says.

“This is essential so we don’t have emitted electrical energy from one piece of equipment adversely interfering with other equipment.”

Doing this will ensure that electrical workers and data and telecommunications workers can completely understand how to install equipment and mitigate EMC interference. Similarly, manufacturers need to know the rules so they can design and build equipment that is fit for purpose.

In response, Paul says that cabling regulations need to keep up with modern technology and more advanced safety measures.

“The history is that these regulations came about when the wireline telephone systems were powered by a central battery system and the telephone company wanted to ensure that cable installers understood the danger of the power systems involved,” he says.

“In the modern world, the communications systems now run on an internet protocol (IP) and are powered locally, even in larger installations like big buildings, and an error in cabling isn’t likely to cause an issue with the central power supply of the telephone carrier.”

At the time of writing, it’s anticipated that ACMA will complete its review of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 in 2024 and then consult with the industry on potential changes.