{"id":"F2017L00590","name":"Radiocommunications (Digital Radio Channels – Northern Territory) Plan 2017","slug":"radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96359,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L00590-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This is the Radiocommunications (Digital Radio Channels – Northern Territory) Plan 2017.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences at the start of the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\n> Note: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed at [www.legislation.gov.au](http://www.legislation.gov.au).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under subsection 44A(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n(1) In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\n> category means a category of digital radio multiplex transmitter licence described in section 5 of the Act.\n\n> DAB means digital audio broadcasting.\n\n> ERP means effective radiated power.\n\n> frequency block means a frequency channel of 1.536 MHz bandwidth.\n\n> maximum antenna height means the maximum permitted height above ground level of the electrical centre of an antenna.\n\n> Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n> Note: (a) category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;\n\n> Note: (b) category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;\n\n> Note: (c) category 3 digital radio transmitter licence; and\n\n> Note: (d) designated BSA radio area.\n\n> Note: (2) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n> Note: (a) a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and\n\n> Note: (b) a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other kind of instrument or writing as in existence from time to time.\n\n> Note 1: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments,\n\n> Note 2: All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Digital radio channel plans","content":"#### 5 Digital radio channel plans\n\n(1) For subsection 44A (1) of the Act, the Schedule to this instrument is a digital radio channel plan for the designated BSA radio area specified in that Schedule.\n\n(2) The digital radio channel plan specified in the Schedule:\n\n(a) allots a frequency block or blocks in relation to the designated BSA radio area for use by digital radio multiplex transmitter licensees; and\n\n(b) reserves a frequency block for a category 3 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence for the designated BSA radio area to be issued in accordance with subsection 102E(2) of the Act; and\n\n(c) determines which of the following types of licences, or which combination of the following types of licences, are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area:\n\n(i) category 1 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence;\n\n(ii) category 2 digital radio multiplex transmitter licence; and\n\n(d) if a particular type of licence mentioned in paragraph (c) is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area — determines whether:\n\n(i) a single licence of that type is to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; or\n\n(ii) 2 or more licences of that type are to be issued for the designated BSA radio area; and\n\n(e) determines technical specifications of multiplex transmitters operated under digital radio multiplex transmitter licences for the designated BSA radio area.\n\n> Note: The relevant technical specifications are set out in Attachments to the Schedule.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Maximum ERP limits","content":"#### 6 Maximum ERP limits\n\n(1) For each digital radio multiplex transmitter, the ERP of that transmitter in any part of a sector or bearing must not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the output radiation pattern table for that sector or bearing in the relevant Attachment.\n\n(2) The licensee of a digital radio multiplex transmitter must, if requested by the ACMA to do so, demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the ACMA, that the ERP of a transmitter in any part of a sector or bearing specified by the ACMA complies with this section.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Co-channel transmitters","content":"#### 7 Co\\-channel transmitters\n\nThe technical specifications for a co-channel transmitter licensed under a relevant digital radio multiplex transmitter licence are those specified in the licence.\n\n \n\nSchedule 1 Darwin RA1\n\n(subsection 5 (1))","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Designated BSA radio area","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Designated BSA radio area","content":"## Designated BSA radio area\n\n Darwin RA1","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"Table 1 Frequency channels","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Table 1 Frequency channels","content":"## Table 1 Frequency channels\n\n| Column 1Multiplex transmitter licence name | Column 2Frequency block | Column 3Reserved frequency block | Column 4Centre frequency (MHz) | Column 5Category | Column 6Technical specification number | Column 7Technical specifications (attachment number) | Column 8General area served |\n| ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------- | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |\n| Darwin 1 | 9A | No | 202.928 | 1 | TS12000070 | 1.1 | Darwin |\n| Darwin 2 | 9C | Yes | 206.352 | 3 | TS12000072 | 1.2 | Darwin |\n\n> Note: Column 8 is included for information only.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"Table 2 Type and number of licences to b","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Table 2 Type and number of licences to be issued","content":"## Table 2 Type and number of licences to be issued\n\n| Column 1Licence category | Column 2Number of licences |\n| ------------------------ | -------------------------- |\n| Category 1 | 1 |\n| Category 2 | 0 |\n| Category 3 | 1 |","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"Attachment 1.1 Darwin 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Attachment 1.1 Darwin 1","content":"## Attachment 1.1 Darwin 1\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Technical specification

Column 2

Details

Category

1

General Area Served

Darwin

Mode

DAB

Specification Number

TS12000070

Transmitter Site

Nominal Location

Broadcast Australia Site 100 Deloraine Rd SHOAL BAY

Nominal Coordinates (GDA94)

Latitude Longitude

12.414473º S 130.969253º E

Emission

Frequency Block

9A

Polarisation

Vertical

Maximum antenna height

105 m

Output Radiation Pattern

Bearing or sector
(clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

20 kW

Advisory Note

Transmissions may need to operate with a power limitation to limit interference to adjacent facilities managed by the Department of Defence.

\n```","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"Attachment 1.2 Darwin 2","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Attachment 1.2 Darwin 2","content":"## Attachment 1.2 Darwin 2\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Technical specification

Column 2

Details

Category

3

General Area Served

Darwin

Mode

DAB

Specification Number

TS12000072

Transmitter Site

Nominal Location

Broadcast Australia Site 100 Deloraine Rd SHOAL BAY

Nominal Coordinates (GDA94)

Latitude Longitude

12.414473º S 130.969253º E

Emission

Frequency Block

9C

Polarisation

Vertical

Maximum antenna height

105 m

Output Radiation Pattern

Bearing or sector
(clockwise direction)

Maximum ERP

At all angles of azimuth

20 kW

Advisory Note

Transmissions may need to operate with a power limitation to limit interference to adjacent facilities managed by the Department of Defence.

\n```","sortOrder":11}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: establishing a digital radio channel plan for a specific geographic area (Darwin RA1). It does not expand beyond frequency allocation and technical specifications for multiplex transmitters."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument with only 7 operative sections","Minimal defined terms (6 definitions in section 4, plus 4 terms referenced from parent Act)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — straightforward command structure ('must not exceed', 'is a reference to')","Single cross-reference to parent Act (Radiocommunications Act 1992) for licensing categories","Technical complexity contained in tabular Schedule and Attachments rather than legislative text","Simple binary conditions (e.g., 'if requested by the ACMA') without layering"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets the technical framework for digital radio (DAB+) in Darwin: it designates two frequency blocks (9A and 9C), reserves 9C for a community multiplex, and fixes transmitter parameters (20 kW max, 105 m antenna, vertical polarisation) at Shoal Bay. It governs licence applicants and ACMA regulation, protects nearby Defence facilities from interference, and ensures reliable digital coverage and spectrum sharing between commercial and community broadcasters."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument establishes a digital radio channel plan for Darwin RA1 as authorised by subsection 44A(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. It does not itself indicate any change from an earlier plan or alter the Act's core scope; its effect is to specify allocations, licence types/numbers and technical limits for that designated BSA area."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, local scope limited to Darwin RA1 (Schedule, Table 1)","Technical specifications embedded in Attachments 1.1 and 1.2 (coordinates, ERP, antenna height, radiation pattern)","ERP compliance and demonstration requirement giving ACMA verification discretion (section 6)","Reservation of a frequency block for a category 3 licence and fixed licence counts (section 5(2)(b), Table 2) which affect market entry and competition","Cross-references to definitions and licence categories in the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (section 4)","Advisory note on Defence interference indicating operational and compliance constraints for licensees (Attachments)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument allocates digital radio spectrum for the Darwin RA1 area: it designates DAB frequency blocks, sets which categories and numbers of digital multiplex licences may be issued, and fixes technical parameters (centre frequencies, ERP caps, antenna height, transmitter site). It affects broadcasters applying for or holding digital multiplex licences and the ACMA’s technical oversight, including ACMA’s power to require demonstrations of ERP compliance (see s.6). An advisory notes possible power limits to avoid interference with Department of Defence facilities."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-northern-territory-plan-2017/documents"}}