{"id":"C2004L05931","name":"Radiocommunications (Multipoint Distribution Station Licences - Regional Licences) Guidelines No. 1 of 1995","slug":"radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"74 of 1995","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":27987,"registerId":"commonwealth-C2004L05931-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"ASSESSMENT A - MDS TRANSMITTER TO MDS RE","sectionType":"part","heading":"ASSESSMENT A - MDS TRANSMITTER TO MDS RECEIVER","content":"# ASSESSMENT A - MDS TRANSMITTER TO MDS RECEIVER\n\nPURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT OF INTERFERENCE FROM MDS TRANSMITTER TO MDS RECEIVER\n\nThe assessments A.1, A.2 and A.3 below specify how to assess the potential for interference from an MDS transmitter to co-channel or adjacent channel MDS receivers for the purposes of Guidelines 14(a), (b) and (c).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"A.1 MDS TRANSMITTER TO CO-CHANNEL MDS RE","sectionType":"part","heading":"A.1 MDS TRANSMITTER TO CO-CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN OTHER LICENCE AREAS","content":"## A.1 MDS TRANSMITTER TO CO-CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN OTHER LICENCE AREAS\n\nA.1.1. This assessment (A.1) is intended to lead, where necessary, to the imposition of a licence condition aimed at ensuring that the field strength from an MDS transmitter does not exceed 32 dBuV/m in any other co‑channel licensee's MDS licence area.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Step 1: Identifying if an Interference A","sectionType":"division","heading":"Step 1: Identifying if an Interference Assessment is Necessary","content":"### Step 1: Identifying if an Interference Assessment is Necessary\n\nA.1.2. The following information is needed to decide if an interference assessment must be carried out:","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Information provided by MDS Licensee","sectionType":"section","heading":"Information provided by MDS Licensee","content":"##### Information provided by MDS Licensee\n\n\\- MDS transmitter location\n\n\\- MDS transmitter channel","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Information provided by the SMA","sectionType":"section","heading":"Information provided by the SMA","content":"##### Information provided by the SMA\n\n\\- MDS licence area boundaries\n\n\\[NOTE. Details of the MDS licence area boundaries are contained in Schedule 1 to the Radiocommunications (Allocation of Multipoint Distribution Station Licences - Regional Licences) Determination No. 1 of 1995.\\]\n\n  \n\nA.1.3. An assessment of the potential for interference from an MDS transmitter to another MDS licence area is necessary if the MDS transmitter is to be located within a distance 'D' of another MDS licence area. The distance 'D' is determined from the height of the transmitting antenna of the MDS transmitter above average ground level and is indicated in the following table.\n\n| Height of Transmitting Antenna above Average Ground Level, Ht*(m) | D(km) |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- |\n| Ht  37.5                                                         | 65    |\n| 37.5 Ht 75                                                        | 75    |\n| 75 Ht 150                                                         | 90    |\n| 150 Ht 300                                                        | 110   |\n| 300 Ht 600                                                        | 135   |\n| 600 Ht 1200                                                       | 175   |\n\n\\* Ht: the height of the MDS transmitting antenna above the average level of the ground between distances of 3 and 15 km from the transmitter in the direction of the nearest point on the boundary of another MDS licence area (see CCIR Rec 370-5).\n\n\\[NOTE. Distances for MDS transmitters with heights of transmitting antennas greater than 1200 m above average ground level will be provided by the Customer Services Group of the SMA, if required.\\]\n\n\\[NOTE. CCIR Recommendations are available from the Standards Australia International Sales Group, Strathfield NSW.\\]\n\nA.1.4. If an interference assessment is necessary, the assessment will comprise the following Steps 2, 3 and 4.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Step 2: Calculating Terrain Loss","sectionType":"division","heading":"Step 2: Calculating Terrain Loss","content":"### Step 2: Calculating Terrain Loss\n\nA.1.5. The following information is needed to complete this calculation:","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Information provided by MDS licensee","sectionType":"section","heading":"Information provided by MDS licensee","content":"##### Information provided by MDS licensee\n\n\\- MDS transmitter location, site height and antenna height\n\n\\- terrain profiles between the MDS transmitter and the point on the boundary of each other licence area identified at Step 1, that is nearest to the MDS transmitter\n\nInformation provided by the SMA\n\n\\- MDS licence area boundaries\n\n\\- nominal MDS receiver antenna height = 10m\n\n\\[NOTE. Details of the MDS licence area boundaries are contained in Schedule 1 to the Radiocommunications (Allocation of Multipoint Distribution Station Licences - Regional Licences) Determination No. 1 of 1995.\\]\n\nA.1.6. Using the method detailed at Schedule 2, calculate the terrain loss between the MDS transmitter and the point on the boundary of each other licence area identified at Step 1, that is nearest to the MDS transmitter.\n\n\\[NOTE. If the protection criteria of Assessment A.1.10 are satisfied when a terrain loss value of Lt = 0 dB is used in the equation at Assessment A.1.8. then calculation of an actual value for Lt is not required.\\]","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Step 3: Calculating Received Signal Leve","sectionType":"division","heading":"Step 3: Calculating Received Signal Levels","content":"### Step 3: Calculating Received Signal Levels\n\nA.1.7. The following information is needed for this calculation:","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"Step 4: Assessing Received Signal Levels","sectionType":"division","heading":"Step 4: Assessing Received Signal Levels Against Protection Requirements","content":"### Step 4: Assessing Received Signal Levels Against Protection Requirements\n\nA.1.9. The following information is needed for this assessment:","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"A.2 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL ","sectionType":"part","heading":"A.2 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN OTHER LICENCE AREAS","content":"## A.2 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN OTHER LICENCE AREAS\n\nA.2.1. This assessment (A.2) is intended to lead, where necessary, to the imposition of a licence condition aimed at ensuring that the field strength from an MDS transmitter does not exceed 76 dBuV/m in any other MDS licence area where transmitters are licensed to operate on adjacent MDS channels.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"A.3 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL ","sectionType":"part","heading":"A.3 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN THE SAME LICENCE AREA","content":"## A.3 MDS TRANSMITTER TO ADJACENT CHANNEL MDS RECEIVERS IN THE SAME LICENCE AREA\n\nA.3.1. This assessment (A.3) specifies how to assess the potential for interference from an MDS transmitter to a notional adjacent channel MDS receiver lying within a defined area (called an assessment area) around an adjacent channel MDS transmitter operating in the same licence area.\n\nA.3.2 The assessment is intended to lead to the imposition, where necessary, of a licence condition aimed at ensuring that the field strength from an MDS transmitter will not exceed 76 dBuV/m in the assessment area around any adjacent channel transmitter operating in the same licence area.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"[NOTE. The results of Assessment C may l","sectionType":"part","heading":"[NOTE. The results of Assessment C may lead to the imposition of licence conditions, see Guideline 16.]","content":"# \\[NOTE. The results of Assessment C may lead to the imposition of licence conditions, see Guideline 16.\\]","sortOrder":57},{"sectionNumber":"ASSESSMENT D - MDS TRANSMITTER TO EARTH ","sectionType":"part","heading":"ASSESSMENT D - MDS TRANSMITTER TO EARTH STATION RECEIVER","content":"# ASSESSMENT D - MDS TRANSMITTER TO EARTH STATION RECEIVER\n\nThis Assessment D specifies how to assess the potential for interference from an MDS Group B transmitter to an earth station receiver in the space research service.\n\nA detailed discussion of the interference mechanisms between MDS and earth stations can be found in Section 2 Part B of the Coordination Handbook.\n\nThe SMA considers that earth station receivers in the space research service are not likely to receive interference from Group A MDS transmitters. Accordingly, no assessment of the interference potential to earth station receivers from Group A MDS transmitters need be carried out.\n\nStep 1: Identifying if an Interference Assessment is Necessary\n\nD.1. The following information is needed to decide if an interference assessment must be carried out:","sortOrder":58}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2613},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The guidelines maintain their original technical scope for managing interference in regional MDS licensing, covering the four specified interference pathways (MDS-MDS, MDS-fixed links, fixed links-MDS, and MDS-earth stations) without expansion beyond the stated purpose of technical coordination."},"complexity_factors":["Four distinct technical assessment frameworks (Assessments A-D) with multiple sub-assessments requiring step-by-step calculations","Complex mathematical formulas involving logarithmic calculations, decibel conversions, and terrain loss modeling (e.g., Eu = 44.77 - 20log(d) + Pt + Gt – Lt)","Extensive cross-referencing to 8 schedules, external ITU/CCIR technical standards, and the related Radiocommunications Determination No. 1 of 1995","Multiple conditional thresholds based on technical variables including antenna height, EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power), and distance tables with 6-7 different value ranges","Dense technical jargon throughout (dBuV/m, propagation loss, protection ratios, co-sited transmitters, assessment areas)","Nested conditional logic: different rules apply based on channel groups (Group A/B), frequency offsets, whether transmitters are 'co-sited' (within 500m), and time percentages for propagation loss"],"plain_english_summary":"These guidelines set technical rules for Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) licence holders in regional Australia to assess and prevent radio interference. Licensees must run detailed, calculation-based assessments using terrain, transmitter and antenna data and compare field strengths to strict limits; regulators can then impose conditions (power, direction, location) if interference risks are found.\n\nThey protect other MDS users, microwave fixed links and key radio astronomy sites (Parkes, Tidbinbilla), preserving services and efficient spectrum sharing."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-multipoint-distribution-station-licences-regional-licences-guidelines-no-1-of-19/documents"}}