(2) If:
(a) a person applies to the ACMA for a call sign to be assigned to the person; and
(b) a call sign can be assigned to the person consistently with this clause; and
(c) the application is made in the form approved by the ACMA (if any); and
(d) the application is made in the method approved by the ACMA (if any); and
(e) the person pays the charge (if any) determined under section 60 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 in relation to such an application;
the ACMA must assign a call sign to the person.
(3) Nothing in subclause (2) compels the ACMA to assign to the person any particular call sign.
(4) The ACMA may:
(a) approve one or more forms for the purposes of paragraph (2)(c); and
(b) approve one or more methods for the purposes of paragraph (2)(d).
(5) The assignment of a call sign to a person must be consistent with the Radio Regulations.
(6) Before assigning a call sign to a person, the ACMA must have regard to any policies published on its website that relate to the assignment of a call sign.
(7) The ACMA must notify a person, in writing, of a call sign assigned to the person, as soon as reasonably practicable after assigning the call sign.
(8) Schedule 6 applies to a decision under subclause (2) to assign a call sign to a person.
Note: Example: A person may make a request under Schedule 6 if they are dissatisfied with the call sign assigned to them.
2 Limitations on assignment
Assignment period
(1) If the ACMA assigns a call sign to a person, the ACMA may specify a period (assignment period) during which the assignment of the call sign to the person has effect.
Note: If the ACMA specifies an assignment period for a call sign, the call sign may be a contest call sign (see section 5).
(2) If the ACMA does not specify an assignment period when it assigns a call sign to a person, the assignment of the call sign to the person has effect unless the ACMA cancels the assignment.
Special event call signs
(3) If the ACMA assigns a call sign to a person, the ACMA:
(a) may specify that the call sign is a special event call sign; and
(b) if the ACMA specifies that the call sign is a special event call sign – must specify the event in relation to which the call sign may be used (relevant event).
(4) If the ACMA specifies an assignment period for a special event call sign, it must specify a period which it reasonably expects will at least encompass the duration of the relevant event.
Section Part 1 Dealing with call signs - Radiocommunications (Amateur Stations) Class Licence 2023 - Part 1 Dealing with call signs | Zoe
3 Cancelling assignment of a call sign
(1) The ACMA may, by written notice to a person, cancel an assignment of a call sign to the person.
(2) Before cancelling the assignment of a call sign to a person, the ACMA must have regard to any policies published on its website that relate to the cancellation of the assignment of a call sign.
(3) Schedule 6 applies to a decision under subclause (1) to cancel an assignment of a call sign to a person.
4 Re-assignment of a call sign
Automatic cancellation at end of assignment period
(1) If the ACMA specified an assignment period for the assignment of a call sign to a person, subject to this clause, the assignment is taken to be cancelled at the end of the assignment period.
Re-assignment
(2) If, before the end of an assignment period for the assignment of a call sign to a person:
(a) the person applies to the ACMA for the assignment to be re-assigned; and
(b) the application is made in the form approved by the ACMA (if any); and
(c) the application is made in the method approved by the ACMA (if any); and
(d) the person pays the charge (if any) determined under section 60 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 in relation to such an application;
the ACMA may re-assign the call sign to the person.
(3) The ACMA may:
(a) approve one or more forms for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b); and
(b) approve one or more methods for the purposes of paragraph (2)(c).
(4) If the ACMA refuses to re-assign a call sign, the ACMA must notify, in writing, the person who applied for re-assignment.
(5) Schedule 6 applies to a decision under subclause (2) to refuse to re-assign a call sign to a person.
5 Replacing a call sign in exceptional circumstances
(1) Despite anything else in this Schedule, if:
(a) a call sign (original call sign) has been assigned to a person (affected person); and
(b) the ACMA is satisfied, having regard to the matters set out in subclause (3), that exceptional circumstances exist that justify assigning a different call sign to the person;
then:
(c) the ACMA may cancel the assignment of the original call sign; and
(d) if the ACMA cancels the assignment of the original call sign, the ACMA must assign a new call sign (replacement call sign) to the affected person under subclause 1(1); and
(e) the ACMA must notify the affected person, in writing, that the assignment of the original call sign has been cancelled and the replacement call sign has been assigned to the affected person; and
(f) subclauses 1(5) and (6) apply in relation to the assignment of the replacement call sign.
Note: Schedule 6 does not apply to a decision to cancel the assignment of the original call sign under subclause (1).
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, the ACMA may exercise its powers and perform its functions under subclause (1) whether or not any person has requested the ACMA to do so.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the matters are:
(a) any representations made by the affected person in relation to the person’s privacy or welfare, and the effect of the original call sign on the person’s privacy or welfare; and
(b) whether the ACMA had regard to any policies published on its website that relate to the assignment of a call sign before assigning the original call sign; and
(c) any other matter the ACMA considers relevant.
Part 2 Transitional provisions
6 Interpretation
(1) In this Part:
Contest Call Sign list means the list of identifiers and persons:
(a) published by the University of Tasmania, through its institute, the Australian Maritime College, on its website; and
(b) described as the ‘2x1 Callsign register’;
as existing immediately before the commencement of this instrument.
Note: At the time this instrument commenced, the Contest Call Sign list was available, free of charge, from the Australian Maritime College’s website at www.amc.edu.au.
designated transmitter licence call sign: see subclause (3).
existing contest call sign: see subclause (2).
transitioned transmitter licence means a transmitter licence that:
(a) authorised the operation of an amateur station, other than an amateur beacon station or an amateur repeater station; and
(b) was in force immediately before the commencement of this instrument.
transmitter licence call sign means an identifier that was specified in a transitioned transmitter licence.
Note: The identifier is described in the transitioned transmitter licence as a ‘call sign’.
(2) If:
(a) a person was named in the Contest Call Sign list immediately before the commencement of this instrument; and
(b) an identifier was specified in the Contest Call Sign list for the person;
the identifier is an existing contest call sign for the person.
Note: The identifier is described in the Contest Call Sign list as a ‘2x1 Callsign’.
(3) If a person was the licensee of a transitioned transmitter licence that specified a transmitter licence call sign, the ACMA may, by notice in writing to the licensee, designate the transmitter licence call sign to be a designated transmitter licence call sign.
Note: See subsection 133(3) of the Act.
Note: Example: The call sign in a transmitter licence that was issued in relation to a particular special event may be designated by the ACMA under subclause (3).
(4) The ACMA must not designate a transmitter licence call sign unless:
(a) for a transmitter licence call sign other than one with the prefix VK0 or VK9 – the ACMA is satisfied that the relevant transitioned transmitter licence was issued in relation to a particular event; and
(b) the designation occurs before the earlier of:
(i) 1 July 2024;
(ii) the time the transitioned transmitter licence ceases to be in force.
7 Transmitter licence call signs
(1) If:
(a) a transitioned transmitter licence was issued to a person; and
(b) the licence specified a transmitter licence call sign;
then, for the purposes of this instrument:
(c) the transmitter licence call sign is taken to be a call sign; and
(d) that call sign is assigned to the person immediately after the commencement of this instrument, regardless of whether the transmitter licence is subsequently cancelled or surrendered; and
(e) subject to subclauses (2) and (3), no assignment period is specified for that assignment of the call sign.
Note: Clause 3 may apply to a call sign assigned to a person under this subclause.
(2) If, at any time before 1 July 2024, a transmitter licence call sign, other than a transmitter licence call sign with the prefix VK0 or VK9, becomes a designated transmitter licence call sign:
(a) paragraph (1)(e) ceases to apply in relation to the assignment of the call sign mentioned in that paragraph; and
(b) the assignment period specified for that assignment of the call sign is the period:
(i) commencing when the transmitter licence call sign becomes a designated transmitter licence call sign; and
(ii) ending at the end of 19 February 2025.
(3) If, at any time before 1 July 2024, a transmitter licence call sign with the prefix VK0 or VK9, becomes a designated transmitter licence call sign:
(a) paragraph (1)(e) ceases to apply in relation to the assignment of the call sign mentioned in that paragraph; and
(b) the assignment period specified for that assignment of the call sign is the period commencing when the transmitter licence call sign becomes a designated transmitter licence call sign and ending at the later of:
(i) 19 February 2025;
(ii) the end of the period specified in the relevant transitioned transmitter licence for the purposes of subsection 103(2) of the Act.
Note: The assignment period ends on the day the relevant transitioned transmitter licence would have expired, regardless of whether the licence was earlier surrendered or cancelled.
8 Contest call signs
If there is an existing contest call sign for a person, for the purposes of this instrument:
(a) the existing contest call sign is taken to be a contest call sign; and
(b) that contest call sign is assigned to the person immediately after the commencement of this instrument; and
(c) the assignment period specified for that assignment of the contest call sign is the period:
(i) commencing when this instrument commences; and
(ii) ending at the end of the first anniversary of the end date specified in the Contest Call Sign list for the existing contest call sign.
Note: Clause 3 may apply to a call sign assigned to a person under this clause.