{"id":"F2005B01094","name":"Licence Area Plan - Alice Springs (Radio) - September 1996","slug":"licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32433,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B01094-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"LICENCE AREA PLAN - aLICE SPRINGS","sectionType":"part","heading":"LICENCE AREA PLAN - aLICE SPRINGS","content":"# LICENCE AREA PLAN - aLICE SPRINGS","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"DETERMINATION","sectionType":"division","heading":"DETERMINATION","content":"### DETERMINATION\n\nThe Australian Broadcasting Authority hereby makes this plan for community radio broadcasting services in the Alice Springs area of Northern Territory, under section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.\n\nFour national services, two commercial services and four open narrowcasting radio broadcasting services are to be available in the Alice Springs area described at Attachment 1.1 to this determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the service that is to be available in the area described at Attachment 1.1 is set out in the Schedule and Attachments 1.2 \\- 1.12 to this Determination.\n\nOne community service and two open narrowcasting services are to be available in the Alice Springs area described at Attachment 2.1 to this determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the service that is to be available in the area described at Attachment 2.1 is set out in the Schedule and Attachments 2.2 \\- 2.5 to this Determination.\n\nOne community service is to be available in the Alice Springs area described at Attachment 3.1 to this determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the service that is to be available in the area described at Attachment 3.1 is set out in the Schedule and Attachment 3.2 to this Determination.\n\nDated 16 September 1996\n\n  \nSCHEDULE\n\nThe Schedule sets out:\n\n-   the category of each of the services that are to be available in that area (column one),\n-   the service licence number which has been allocated to the service, if appropriate (column two); N/A = Not Applicable, as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 only requires service licences for Commercial and Community services.\n-   the number of transmitters required to transmit the service,\n-   the transmitter specification number which has been allocated to each transmitter (column three),\n-   the identifying number of the attachment where the technical specifications for each transmitter are described (column four). (Each set of technical specifications referred to in the Schedules is an attachment to this determination).\n-   the general area served by each transmitter (column five).\n\n  \nSCHEDULE ONE\n\nLicence Area Plan - Alice Springs- (Radio) - September 1996\n\n| Category ofService | Service Licence No: | Transmitter Specification No: | TechnicalSpecifications | General Area Served by Transmitter |\n| ------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS003114                      | See attachment 1.2      | Alice Springs                      |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS003990                      | See attachment 1.3      | Alice Springs                      |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS002363                      | See attachment 1.4      | Alice Springs                      |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS002351                      | See attachment 1.5      | Alice Springs                      |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS003181                      | See attachment 1.6      | Yulara                             |\n| Commercial         | SL010232            | TS003118                      | See attachment 1.7      | Alice Springs                      |\n| Commercial         | SL010145            | TS002362                      | See attachment 1.8      | Alice Springs                      |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004014                      | See attachment 1.9      | Alice Springs                      |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004214                      | See attachment 1.10     | Alice Springs                      |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004022                      | See attachment 1.11     | Yulara                             |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004023                      | See attachment 1.12     | Yulara                             |\n\nSCHEDULE TWO\n\nLicence Area Plan - Alice Springs- (Radio) - September 1996\n\n| Category ofService | Service Licence No: | Transmitter Specification No: | TechnicalSpecifications | General Area Served by Transmitter |\n| ------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| Community          | SL010179            | TS002365                      | See attachment 2.2      | Alice Springs                      |\n| Community          | SL010179            | TS003111                      | See attachment 2.3      | Tennant Creek                      |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004020                      | See attachment 2.4      | Tennant Creek                      |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS004021                      | See attachment 2.5      | Tennant Creek                      |","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination stays within the conventional scope of a licence area plan under the Broadcasting Services Act: it designates the categories and number of radio services for the Alice Springs area and specifies transmitter technical parameters by reference to attachments. There is no indication in the text provided that the instrument expands beyond that statutory purpose or materially repurposes the mechanism; it records supply (which services and transmitters) and technical constraints rather than creating new kinds of regulatory powers or obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-referenced attachments for technical specifications (attachments 1.2–1.12, 2.2–2.5 and references to further attachments for Schedule Three)","Three service categories with differing regulatory treatment (National, Commercial, Community, Open Narrowcasting) and differing licence requirements","Service licence numbers present for commercial and community services only (requires awareness of Broadcasting Services Act distinctions)","Some service licences cover multiple transmitters (e.g. SL010179), creating non‑one‑to‑one mappings","Numerous transmitter specification identifiers (at least 12 in Schedule One and 4 in Schedule Two) to track against attachments","Delegation of all technical detail to attachments rather than in-body text (more documents to consult for full compliance)","Small number of conditional references (e.g. 'N/A' entries and references to section 26(1) of the Act) requiring statutory context"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically):**\n\n- It is a licence area plan (a kind of administrative determination) made under section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.  The plan specifies which radio broadcasting services are to be available in the Alice Springs licence area and supplies the technical particulars for the transmitters that will carry those services.\n- It lists the services by category (National, Commercial, Community, Open Narrowcasting), gives service licence numbers where required (commercial and community services only), and identifies transmitter specification numbers and the attachment where each transmitter's technical specifications are recorded (for example, attachments 1.2–1.12 and 2.2–2.5).  It also records the general area each transmitter is intended to serve (Alice Springs, Yulara, Tennant Creek).\n- The document requires particular transmitters (identified by transmitter specification numbers) to be used for each service, and it delegates the detailed technical parameters (power, location, antenna characteristics, frequencies, etc.) to the referenced attachments.\n\n**Who this affects:**\n\n- Broadcasters and licensees: commercial and community broadcasters who hold (or apply for) the listed service licences, and operators of national and open-narrowcasting services described in the plan.\n- Equipment and network planners: engineers and suppliers who must implement the transmitter specifications in the attachments and ensure systems meet the recorded technical parameters.\n- Regulators and frequency managers: the Australian Broadcasting Authority (the maker of the plan) and other spectrum-management bodies responsible for avoiding interference and enforcing technical compliance.\n- Listeners and local markets: residents and businesses in Alice Springs, Yulara and Tennant Creek who will receive the services; commercial broadcasters’ market scope is formally delimited by the number of licences allowed.\n\n**Why it matters (official purpose, then practical effects):**\n\n- Official purpose claim: the plan declares which radio services are to be \"available\" in the Alice Springs licence area and records the technical characteristics required for those services (as stated in the Determination).  In other words, it formalises the number, category and technical design of services that may operate in the area.\n\n- Practical effects and implementation mechanics:\n  - It fixes the supply of radio service slots in the area – for example, four national services, two commercial services and four open narrowcasting services in the main Alice Springs area listed in Schedule One; separate community and open-narrowcasting allocations appear in Schedule Two (and a further community allocation is referenced in Schedule Three attachments that are not reproduced here).  That quantity is a binding administrative statement about who may operate and how many of each category are recognised for the area.\n  - Technical constraints are prescribed by reference to transmitter specification attachments. Licensees must build and operate transmitters to those specifications; that constrains transmitter location, power and frequency choices and is the primary tool used to manage interference and coverage.\n  - The plan records where service licences are required and where they are not: service licence numbers are shown for the commercial and community services (because the Broadcasting Services Act requires licences for those categories), and \"N/A\" is used for national and open-narrowcasting services that do not have (or do not require) a service licence under that scheme.  That changes administrative obligations between categories.\n\n**Costs, incentives, trade-offs and implementation risks (concrete mechanisms):**\n\n- Who pays: licensees and operators bear the cost of installing and operating transmitters to the stated technical specifications (capital and ongoing operating costs). Commercial licensees also bear market risk (funding through advertising, subscriptions or sponsorship). The regulator bears enforcement and monitoring costs.\n- Market and competition effects: fixing a small, discrete number of commercial and community service slots allocates scarce opportunities. That limits the number of competing full-service broadcasters in the area unless additional determinations are later made. Incumbent holders of the listed service licence numbers (for example SL010232, SL010145 and SL010179) have the immediate right to operate those listed services, while other potential entrants must wait for licence turnover or further allocation.\n- Compliance burden and uncertainty: the plan delegates technical detail to attachments. That concentrates compliance obligations on meeting those technical specifications and requires licensees to follow the attachments closely. If attachments are technical or numerous, there is an implementation cost in engineering and testing. Enforcement depends on the ABA's capacity to monitor technical compliance and manage interference disputes.\n- Administrative discretion and concentration of benefit: the ABA determines what service types and how many of each will be \"available\". This concentrates decision-making authority in the regulator; beneficiaries are the particular licence holders and operators able to meet the technical and licensing requirements. The plan does not itself set auction or allocation procedures — it merely records the outcome and the technical conditions.\n- Substitution and service design: open narrowcasting licences (and national services that do not need a service licence) allow niche or targeted services; that can expand programming variety without increasing the number of full commercial/community licences. However, spectrum usage is still controlled by the transmitter specifications to limit interference.\n\n**Operational notes and anomalies visible in the text:**\n\n- The Schedule explicitly notes that only commercial and community services require a service licence under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992; national and open narrowcasting services are shown as \"N/A\" for service licence number.\n- Some service licences are shown as covering multiple transmitter specifications (for example, SL010179 appears in Schedule Two for transmitters serving Alice Springs and Tennant Creek), meaning a single community licence can operate multiple transmitters under the plan.\n- The instrument refers to attachments (1.2–1.12, 2.2–2.5 and a referenced set for Schedule Three) for the technical details. Those attachments are operationally essential; without them the tables record only identities and not the technical parameters.\n\n**Bottom line:** procedurally, the determination fixes which categories and how many radio services are to be available in the Alice Springs licence area and identifies the transmitters and their technical-specification attachments that licensees must observe. This shapes market access (how many commercial and community players can operate), imposes technical compliance obligations on operators, and gives the regulator the instrument for managing spectrum and interference in the area."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward technical planning instrument made under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. It performs exactly the function intended by that Act — planning spectrum allocation for broadcasting services in a specific geographic area. There is no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond the original statutory purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Highly structured but repetitive tabular format with multiple schedules and attachments referenced but not included","Relies on external technical specifications (Attachments 1.2–3.2) which are not reproduced in the text","Uses statutory references (section 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992) without explanation","Abbreviations and codes (TS003114, SL010232, N/A) require cross-referencing to understand","Multiple overlapping geographical areas (Alice Springs, Yulara, Tennant Creek) with different service allocations"],"plain_english_summary":"This document is a **Licence Area Plan** made by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (now the Australian Communications and Media Authority) in September 1996. It sets out what radio services can broadcast in Alice Springs and nearby areas like Yulara and Tennant Creek.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Plans the radio landscape**: It decides how many radio stations of different types can operate in the Alice Springs area and allocates specific frequencies (technical specifications) to each.\n- **Categories of services**: It covers four types of radio services:\n  - **National services** (like ABC Radio — government-funded, no ads)\n  - **Commercial services** (private stations that run ads)\n  - **Community services** (non-profit, local stations run by volunteers or community groups)\n  - **Open narrowcasting services** (specialised broadcasts for limited audiences, like tourist info or specific language groups)\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Radio broadcasters wanting to set up in Alice Springs, Yulara, or Tennant Creek\n- Local communities who listen to or run community radio\n- Businesses wanting commercial radio licences\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this plan, radio stations might interfere with each other on the airwaves. The plan ensures orderly use of the radio spectrum (the invisible frequencies used for broadcasting) so listeners get clear signals and different types of services (news, music, community info) are available."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996","history":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996/history","analysis":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-alice-springs-radio-september-1996/documents"}}