IntroductionIntroduction

Introduction

Under section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act, ACMA is required to prepare technical guidelines for the planning of individual radio and television services that use the broadcasting services bands. Despite their name, the Technical Planning Guidelines (TPGs) contain mandatory technical requirements to be met by commercial, community (including temporary community) broadcasting licensees and datacasting licensees using the broadcasting services bands when planning and operating new transmission facilities or proposing changes to existing facilities.

By reason of paragraphs 108A (1) (d), 109 (1) (e), 109A (1) (f) and 109B (1) (n) of the Radiocommunications Act, the licensee of a transmitter licence issued to the holder of a temporary community broadcasting licence issued under Part 6A of the Broadcasting Services Act, or a commercial radio or television broadcasting licence issued under Part 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act, or a community radio or television broadcasting licence issued under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act, or the holder of a datacasting transmitter licence or a digital radio multiplex transmitter licence issued under Part 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act, or any authorised person, must comply with these guidelines.[3]

Note that transmitter licences for National Broadcasting Services issued under sections 100 or 100B, or narrowcasting licences issued under section 100 of the Radiocommunications Act, may also include a licence condition requiring compliance with specified guidelines or parts of these guidelines.

These explanatory notes are designed to assist broadcasters and others involved with the broadcasting industry to understand how the TPGs apply to the planning and operation of transmitters using the broadcasting services bands.