{"id":"F2007L04663","name":"Radiocommunications (Digital Radio Channels - Victoria) Plan 2007","slug":"radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":71030,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L04663-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Designated BSA radio area","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Designated BSA radio area","content":"## Designated BSA radio area\n\n Melbourne RA1","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"Table 1 Frequency channels","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Table 1 Frequency channels","content":"## Table 1 Frequency channels\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Multiplex Name

Column 2

Frequency block

Column 3

Reserved frequency block

Column 4

Centre frequency (MHz)

Column 5

Category

Column 6

Technical Specification Number

Column 7

Technical Specifications (Attachment number)

Melbourne 1

9A

No

202.928

1

TS1132980

1.1

Melbourne 2

9B

No

204.640

1

TS1132981

1.2

Melbourne 3

9C

Yes

206.352

3

TS1132982

1.3

\n```","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Table 2 Number of licences to be issued","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Table 2 Number of licences to be issued","content":"## Table 2 Number of licences to be issued\n\n| Column 1Licence Category | Column 2Number of licences |\n| ------------------------ | -------------------------- |\n| Category 1 | 2 |\n| Category 2 | 0 |\n| Category 3 | 1 |","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Attachment 1.1 Multiplex Melbourne 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Attachment 1.1 Multiplex Melbourne 1","content":"## Attachment 1.1 Multiplex Melbourne 1\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Technical specification

Column 2

Details

Category

1

General Area Served

Melbourne

Mode

DAB

Specification number

TS1132980

Transmitter Site

Nominal Location

NTL (ABV‑2) Tower

Eyre Road

MT DANDENONG

Australian Map Grid Reference 1966

Zone Easting Northing

55 354580 5811035

Site Tolerance

Refer to technical planning guidelines

Emission

Frequency Band

VHF

Centre Frequency

202.928 MHz (Frequency Block 9A)

Polarisation

Vertical

Maximum antenna height

160 m

Output Radiation Pattern

Bearing or sector

(clockwise direction)

Depression angle

Maximum ERP

At or above dividing line

Below dividing line

0 °T – 13 °T

All angles

50 kW

13 °T – 30 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

50 kW

30 °T – 50 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

20 kW

50 °T – 150 °T

0.2°

5 kW

20 kW

150 °T – 240 °T

All angles

50 kW

240 °T – 250 °T

0.7°

20 kW

50 kW

250 °T – 261 °T

All angles

50 kW

261 °T – 265 °T

0.5°

12.5 kW

50 kW

265 °T – 360 °T

All angles

50 kW

Additional technical specification

The radiated signal characteristics of the transmitter must comply with the spectrum mask for VHF transmitters in critical areas for adjacent channel interference as specified in clause 15.4 of standard ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1, issued by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute.

\n```","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Attachment 1.2 Multiplex Melbourne 2","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Attachment 1.2 Multiplex Melbourne 2","content":"## Attachment 1.2 Multiplex Melbourne 2\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Technical specification

Column 2

Details

Category

1

General Area Served

Melbourne

Mode

DAB

Specification number

TS1132981

Transmitter Site

Nominal Location

NTL (ABV‑2) Tower

Eyre Road

MT DANDENONG

Australian Map Grid Reference 1966

Zone Easting Northing

55 354580 5811035

Site Tolerance

Refer to technical planning guidelines

Emission

Frequency Band

VHF

Centre Frequency

204.640 MHz (Frequency Block 9B)

Polarisation

Vertical

Maximum antenna height

160 m

Output Radiation Pattern

Bearing or sector

(clockwise direction)

Depression angle

Maximum ERP

At or above dividing line

Below dividing line

0 °T – 13 °T

All angles

50 kW

13 °T – 30 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

50 kW

30 °T – 50 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

20 kW

50 °T – 150 °T

0.2°

5 kW

20 kW

150 °T – 240 °T

All angles

50 kW

240 °T – 250 °T

0.7°

20 kW

50 kW

250 °T – 261 °T

All angles

50 kW

261 °T – 265 °T

0.5°

12.5 kW

50 kW

265 °T – 360 °T

All angles

50 kW

\n```","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Attachment 1.3 Multiplex Melbourne 3","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Attachment 1.3 Multiplex Melbourne 3","content":"## Attachment 1.3 Multiplex Melbourne 3\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Technical specification

Column 2

Details

Category

3

General Area Served

Melbourne

Mode

DAB

Specification number

TS1132982

Transmitter Site

Nominal Location

NTL (ABV‑2) Tower

Eyre Road

MT DANDENONG

Australian Map Grid Reference 1966

Zone Easting Northing

55 354580 5811035

Site Tolerance

Refer to technical planning guidelines

Emission

Frequency Band

VHF

Centre Frequency

206.352 MHz (Frequency Block 9C)

Polarisation

Vertical

Maximum antenna height

160 m

Output Radiation Pattern

Bearing or sector

(clockwise direction)

Depression angle

Maximum ERP

At or above dividing line

Below dividing line

0 °T – 13 °T

All angles

50 kW

13 °T – 30 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

50 kW

30 °T – 50 °T

0.2°

1.6 kW

20 kW

50 °T – 150 °T

0.2°

5 kW

20 kW

150 °T – 240 °T

All angles

50 kW

240 °T – 250 °T

0.7°

20 kW

50 kW

250 °T – 261 °T

All angles

50 kW

261 °T – 265 °T

0.5°

12.5 kW

50 kW

265 °T – 360 °T

All angles

50 kW

\n```","sortOrder":5}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4.5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument is narrow and technical: it allocates specific VHF frequency blocks for DAB multiplexes in the Melbourne RA1 area and prescribes technical parameters and licence counts. It does not appear to expand beyond that original purpose; instead it provides detailed implementation specifications (site, power patterns, standards references) required to operate the allocated multiplexes."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple structured tables and three separate attachments with near‑identical but individually numbered technical parameters (Table 1 + Attachments 1.1–1.3)","Detailed sectorised ERP table in each attachment (many angular sectors, depression angles and different power limits)","Cross‑references to external technical documents (ETSI EN 300 401 and unspecified technical planning guidelines)","Licence category system combined with a separate table listing number of licences (Table 2) — requires joining category codes across tables","Reserved frequency flag (Column 3) introduces conditional allocation rules (some blocks reserved)","Technical parameters include geographic coordinates and nominal transmitter site plus a site tolerance reference (external material), creating dependency on external technical guidance"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- Designates three digital radio multiplex channels for the Melbourne broadcast area (Melbourne RA1). See Table 1 and Attachments 1.1–1.3.\n- Specifies for each multiplex: the multiplex name (Melbourne 1, 2, 3), the VHF frequency block (9A, 9B, 9C), the centre frequency in MHz (202.928, 204.640, 206.352), whether the block is reserved (Table 1, Column 3), the category of licence to apply (Table 1, Column 5), and the technical specification number (Table 1, Column 6).\n- Sets detailed technical parameters for each multiplex in attachments: service area (Melbourne), transmission mode (DAB), specification numbers (TS1132980, TS1132981, TS1132982), nominal transmitter site (NTL (ABV‑2) Tower, Eyre Road, Mt Dandenong) with map grid coordinates, maximum antenna height (160 m), polarisation (vertical), centre frequency, and detailed output radiation/ERP (effective radiated power) patterns by sector and depression angle. Attachments also require compliance with the ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1 adjacent‑channel spectrum mask (Attachment 1.1, final paragraph).\n- States how many licences of each category are to be issued for the designated area (Table 2): Category 1 — 2 licences; Category 2 — 0 licences; Category 3 — 1 licence.\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- Broadcasters and prospective digital radio operators: organisations seeking to operate services on these multiplexes must obtain the licences the plan authorises and comply with the technical parameters in the attachments.\n- Spectrum regulator and licence administrators: the regulator will allocate and manage the licences referred to in Table 2 and enforce the technical requirements in the attachments and referenced planning guidelines.\n- Transmitter site operators and infrastructure providers (tower owners, antenna installers): they are constrained by the prescribed nominal site, maximum antenna height, antenna pattern and ERP limits.\n- Equipment manufacturers and installers: required to deliver transmitters and antennas that meet the specified emissions, polarisation and spectrum‑mask requirements.\n- Other radio users and neighbouring spectrum licence‑holders: their interference environment can change because the instrument fixes power levels and radiation patterns for these VHF blocks.\n\n**Why it matters (practical effects and mechanics)**\n\n- It allocates scarce VHF spectrum in Melbourne to three digital multiplexes, with explicit limits on power, directionality and transmitter siting. Those allocations determine who can operate digital radio services and under what technical constraints (Table 1; Attachments 1.1–1.3).\n- The plan narrows the set of possible entrants by specifying the number of licences by category (Table 2). Two Category 1 licences and one Category 3 licence will be available for Melbourne; no Category 2 licences will be issued for this area.\n- Technical constraints (ERP sectors, maximum antenna height, polarisation, spectrum‑mask compliance) impose compliance costs on operators and shape coverage (Attachments 1.1–1.3). Where the plan references external technical planning guidelines or ETSI standards, operators must follow those documents too, creating cross‑document compliance obligations.\n\n**Official stated purpose (as presented in the instrument)**\n\n- The schedule allocates and prescribes technical conditions for digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplex channels for Melbourne RA1. The attachment specifications and licence counts are the mechanism used to implement that allocation.\n\n**Testing the official purpose against costs, incentives and trade‑offs**\n\n- Who pays: successful licence applicants will bear the capital and operating costs of transmitters, antenna installations, and ongoing compliance with the technical specifications (Attachments 1.1–1.3). The instrument itself does not set licence fees; it constrains what licence holders must deliver.\n- Concentrated benefits / diffuse costs: the concrete benefit (ability to operate a multiplex) is concentrated to a small number of licence holders (2 Category 1, 1 Category 3). Potential interference or opportunity costs (other uses of the VHF band, or requirements on neighbouring transmitters) are dispersed across other spectrum users and the public.\n- Incentives and behaviour changes: by fixing licence counts and technical limits, the plan encourages multiplex operators to consolidate services onto the announced blocks and to site equipment consistent with the specified antenna pattern. Operators constrained by ERP and pattern limits may need additional sites or technical solutions to reach particular suburbs, or choose not to serve marginal areas.\n- Trade‑offs and opportunity costs: dedicating these frequency blocks to DAB in Melbourne means those VHF blocks cannot be simultaneously assigned to other services in the same area. The plan’s technical constraints (directional ERP, polarisation, fixed site) reduce the likelihood of harmful interference but can reduce coverage radius compared with an unconstrained allocation.\n- Implementation and compliance risk: the plan refers operators to external technical planning guidelines and an ETSI standard (ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1). Effective implementation requires regulator oversight, accurate transmitter installation, and measurement to ensure ERP and spectrum mask compliance. Discrepancies between nominal site coordinates and actual site engineering may require regulatory adjustments under the planning guidelines.\n- Effects on private enterprise and competition: the instrument narrows supply by limiting licences (Table 2). The category designations (Category 1 v Category 3) determine the type of services permitted per multiplex and therefore affect competitive dynamics among broadcasters; the instrument itself does not set market entry rules beyond licence counts and technical constraints.\n\n**Key cross‑references and sources of discretion**\n\n- Attachments require compliance with external documents: the instrument references technical planning guidelines (for site tolerance) and ETSI EN 300 401 for adjacent‑channel spectrum masks (Attachment 1.1). That linkage delegates technical detail to external standards and guidelines, which the regulator will apply when assessing compliance.\n\n**Where to look in the instrument for specifics**\n\n- Table 1 lists the three multiplexes, frequency blocks, centre frequencies, whether a block is reserved, licence category, and the technical specification number.\n- Table 2 lists the number of licences to be issued by category for the designated area.\n- Attachments 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 contain the full technical parameters for each multiplex (site coordinates, antenna height, polarisation, detailed sector ERP limits, and referenced standards).\n\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward technical implementation instrument that matches its original purpose exactly. It allocates digital radio spectrum for Melbourne according to the standard framework established under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The scope remains limited to frequency planning and technical specifications for the designated broadcast service area."},"complexity_factors":["Highly technical content with 3 detailed frequency channel specifications","Extensive tabular data with precise engineering parameters (ERP values, depression angles, bearings)","References to external technical standards (ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1) without reproducing them","Multiple attachments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) with nearly identical structures but different technical values","Use of specialised terminology (multiplex, ERP, polarisation, VHF, DAB) without definitions within the instrument","No conditional logic or exceptions - purely prescriptive technical specifications"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets the technical framework for digital radio in Melbourne: it allocates three digital multiplexes (including one reserved for community broadcasters), fixes the three broadcast frequencies, limits licence types and numbers, and mandates transmitter requirements (location at Mount Dandenong, vertical polarisation, antenna height and power/pattern limits).\n\nIt affects commercial and community radio operators and the ACMA’s licensing, and matters because it prevents interference, manages spectrum use, and guarantees community access to digital broadcast capacity."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-digital-radio-channels-victoria-plan-2007/documents"}}