{"id":"F2018L00643","name":"Digital Radio Multiplex Transmitter Licences (Decision-Making Criteria) Determination 2018","slug":"digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":100068,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L00643-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Digital Radio Multiplex Transmitter Licences (Decision-Making Criteria) Determination 2018","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nDigital Radio Multiplex Transmitter Licences (Decision-Making Criteria) Determination 2018\n\n![](image.002.png)Radiocommunications Act 1992\n\nThe AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION makes this\n\nDetermination under section 118NJ of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\nDated 14 May 2018\n\nRod Sims\n\nChairman\n\n![](image.003.png)Australian Competition and Consumer Commission\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Digital Radio Multiplex Transmitter Licences\n\n(Decision-Making Criteria) Determination 2018.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Determination commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal\n\nRegister of Legislative Instruments.\n\n3 Repeal\n\nThe Digital Radio Multiplex Transmitter Licences (Decision-Making Criteria) Determination 2008 is repealed.\n\n4 Object of Determination\n\nThe object of this Determination is to promote transparency in decision\\-making by setting out the criteria that the ACCC must apply in deciding whether to accept an access undertaking or a variation of an access undertaking given to the ACCC in relation to a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence.\n\n5 Definitions\n\nIn this Determination, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\nACCC means the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. access undertaking means an undertaking under section 118ND of the Act. Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\ncategory 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence has the meaning given by section 5 of the Act.\n\ncategory 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence has the meaning given by section 5 of the Act.\n\ndigital radio multiplex transmitter licence means:\n\n(a) a category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence; or\n\n(b) a category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence.\n\nlicensee means a holder of a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence or any person authorised by the holder of the licence to operate multiplex transmitters under the licence.\n\nmultiplex capacity has the meaning given by section 118NB of the Act.\n\nvariation of an access undertaking means a variation of an access undertaking under section 118NH of the Act.\n\n6 Acceptance of access undertakings\n\n(1) In deciding whether to accept an access undertaking, the ACCC must have regard to the following matters:\n\n(a) whether the access undertaking complies with Division 4B of Part\n\n3.3 of the Act;\n\n(b) whether the access undertaking unduly restricts competition in related markets;\n\n(c) whether the terms and conditions of access specified in the access undertaking are reasonable;\n\n(d) whether the terms and conditions of access specified in the access undertaking include access prices or pricing methodologies which are fair and reasonable;\n\n(e) whether the access undertaking includes an obligation on the licensee to not hinder access to services;\n\n(f) whether the terms and conditions of access specified in the access undertaking provide for a reasonable dispute resolution mechanism.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not, by implication, limit the matters to which regard may be had.\n\n7 Acceptance of variations of access undertakings\n\n(1) For the purposes of this section, in deciding whether to accept a variation of an access undertaking, the ACCC must have regard to the matters in subsection 6(1) of this Determination.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not, by implication, limit the matters to which regard may be had.\n\nNote: Section 118NH of the Act permits a licensee to give the ACCC a variation of an access undertaking and also requires such a licensee to give the ACCC a variation of an access undertaking where the ACCC requires it to do so.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Determination repeals the 2008 instrument (s3) and replaces it with an explicit list of criteria the ACCC 'must have regard to' when accepting access undertakings or their variations (s4–s7). Its scope is focused on ACCC decision‑making criteria (compliance, competition, reasonable terms/pricing, non‑hindrance, dispute resolution) while preserving the possibility of additional considerations through non‑limitation clauses (s6(2), s7(2))."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, well‑defined subject matter limited to decision criteria for one licence type (digital radio multiplex transmitter licences) (s4, s5).","Short, enumerated list of mandatory matters the ACCC must have regard to (s6(1)): compliance, competition, terms, pricing, non‑hindrance, dispute resolution.","Cross‑references to substantive provisions of the Radiocommunications Act (Division 4B, s118ND, s118NH, s118NB) require legal interpretation of those provisions.","Residual discretion preserved by 'does not, by implication, limit' clauses (s6(2), s7(2)), which can widen administrative judgment in practice.","Repeal of the 2008 Determination (s3) creates a need to compare instruments when assessing change, adding an implementation step."],"plain_english_summary":"**This instrument requires the ACCC to apply a specific set of decision‑making criteria when deciding whether to accept (or accept variations to) access undertakings for digital radio multiplex transmitter licences.**\n\nIt affects licence holders and parties seeking multiplex capacity by shaping the factors the ACCC must consider (compliance with the Act, competition impacts, reasonable terms and pricing, non‑hindrance obligations, and dispute resolution), and is presented as promoting transparency (s4)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Determination remains tightly focused on its original purpose: setting decision-making criteria for access undertakings relating to digital radio multiplex transmitter licences. The 2018 version repeals and replaces the 2008 version but does not expand the scope beyond transparency in ACCC decision-making for these specific licences."},"complexity_factors":["Short document: only 7 sections spanning approximately 2 pages","Minimal defined terms: 8 definitions in section 5, all straightforward cross-references to the parent Act","Simple structure: linear progression from definitions to substantive criteria without nested conditions","No exceptions or provisos in the operative provisions (sections 6 and 7)","Single layer of criteria: 6 bullet-point matters in subsection 6(1) with no sub-paragraphs or conditional logic","Cross-references limited to the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the 2008 Determination being repealed","No transitional provisions, schedules, or machinery provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination tells the ACCC what to check when deciding whether to approve voluntary access undertakings for digital radio multiplex transmission licences. It affects the ACCC, licence-holding multiplex operators, and radio broadcasters that need access to that scarce infrastructure.\n\nWhy it matters: by setting transparent standards — covering legal compliance, competition, reasonable terms and pricing, non‑discrimination and dispute resolution — it guards against licence‑holder abuse and helps ensure fair, affordable access to digital radio capacity."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018","history":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/digital-radio-multiplex-transmitter-licences-decision-making-criteria-determination-2018/documents"}}