Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002
as amended
made under sections 132 (1) and 135 of the
Radiocommunications Act 1992
This compilation was prepared on 27 July 2011
taking into account amendments up to Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2011 (No. 2)
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]
2 When Class Licence comes into force [see Note 1]
3 Definitions
4 Revocation
5 Class Licence
6 Conditions — general
7 Operating a CB station to transmit audio tones
8 Condition relating to a CB station that operates through a CB repeater station
9 Directions
10 Condition relating to technical requirements for a CB station with a device compliance day before 20 December 1996
11 Condition relating to applicable standards for a CB station with a device compliance day on or after 20 December 1996
12 Condition relating to a CB station connected to a telecommunications network
Schedule 1 CB station operational requirements
Part 1 HF
Part 2 UHF — 25 kHz channels
Part 3 UHF — 12.5 kHz channels
Schedule 2 Documents
Notes
1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]
This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002.
2 When Class Licence comes into force [see Note 1]
This Class Licence comes into force on gazettal.
3 Definitions
In this Class Licence:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
CB repeater station means a station:
(a) established at a fixed location for the reception and automatic re‑transmission of radio signals from CB stations on a channel mentioned in item 5 or 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) operated under an apparatus licence.
CB station or citizen band radio station means a station operating on a channel mentioned in Schedule 1.
device compliance day, for a CB station, means the most recent of the following days:
(a) if the CB station was manufactured in Australia — the day it was manufactured;
Section 1 - Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002 - Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002 | Zoe
(b) if the CB station was manufactured overseas and imported — the day it was imported;
(c) if the CB station was altered or modified in a material respect — the day it was altered or modified.
F3E means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a frequency modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information.
G3E means an emission whose basic characteristic is that of a phase modulated carrier on a single channel containing primarily analogue telephony information.
lower sideband, or LSB, means an SSB radio emission of which the sideband above the carrier is suppressed.
relevant document, for a CB station, means the document mentioned in Schedule 2, that:
(a) applies to the CB station; and
(b) was published most recently before the device compliance day for the CB station.
telecommunications network has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Note: upper sideband, or USB, means an SSB radio emission of which the sideband below the carrier is suppressed.
Note For definitions of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Act, the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993 and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
4 Revocation
For section 135 of the Act, the following instruments are revoked:
Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence 1994, notified in the Gazette on 16 September 1994
Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence (Variation No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 28 September 1994
Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence Variation 1999 (No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 7 July 1999
Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence Variation 2000 (No. 1), notified in the Gazette on 22 December 2000.
5 Class Licence
(1) Subject to sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 a person may:
(a) operate a CB station of a kind to which subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) applies; or
(b) until and including 30 June 2017 — operate a CB station of a kind to which subsection (6) applies.
(2) This subsection applies to a CB station that directly transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2, 3 or 7 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(3) This subsection applies to a CB station that, through a CB repeater station, transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication, with another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(4) This subsection applies to a CB station that transmits data to communicate with another CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 6 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(5) This subsection applies to a CB station that transmits signals that identify the CB station or indicate the geographic location of the CB station:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 6, 7 or 8 in Schedule 1; and
(b) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
(6) This subsection applies to a CB station that:
(a) directly transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(i) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4 in Schedule 1; and
(ii) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item;
(b) through a CB repeater station, transmits speech to, or audio tones to initiate communication with, another CB station:
(i) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 5 in Schedule 1; and
(ii) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item; or
(c) transmits signals that identify the CB station or indicate the geographic location of the CB station:
(i) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4 or 5 in Schedule 1; and
(ii) subject to the restrictions mentioned in the item.
6 Conditions — general
A person must not:
(a) except in an emergency — operate a CB station on:
(i) carrier frequency 27.065 megahertz; or
(ii) carrier frequency 476.525 megahertz; or
(iii) carrier frequency 477.275 megahertz; or
Note In an emergency mentioned in subsection 49 (1) of the Act, if a carrier frequency mentioned in this paragraph is not accessible, it is preferable that a carrier frequency mentioned in paragraph (b) should be used.
(b) except to initiate contact with another CB station — operate a CB station on:
(i) carrier frequency 27.085 megahertz; or
(ii) carrier frequency 27.155 megahertz; or
(iii) carrier frequency 476.675 megahertz; or
(c) use with a transmitter device that encrypts speech transmission in transmitting:
(i) a radio signal on a carrier frequency that is referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or
(ii) through a CB repeater station; or
(d) make an alteration to a CB station, or to accessory apparatus used in the operation of a CB station, that is likely to cause interference to radiocommunications, except:
(i) in accordance with a direction given under subparagraph 9 (2) (a) (i); or
(ii) with the consent in writing of an inspector who is reasonably satisfied that the alteration has been made to test the operation of the CB station; or
(e) operate a CB station to transmit on a carrier frequency mentioned in an item in Schedule 1 if the transmission will cause harmful interference to the operation of any other CB station on that carrier frequency; or
(f) operate a CB station:
(i) in a way that would be likely to cause a reasonable person, justifiably in all the circumstances, to be seriously alarmed or seriously affronted; or
(ii) for the purpose of harassing a person; or
(g) fail to comply with a direction given under section 9; or
(h) operate a CB station to transmit speech on channels 22 (476.9500 MHz) or 23 (476.975 MHz); or
(i) operate a CB station:
(i) to link the output signals of a CB repeater station, directly or indirectly, to the input of another CB repeater station; or
(ii) to link the signals from a CB channel at one location, directly or indirectly, to a CB channel at another location; or
(j) operate a CB station to transmit signals that identify a CB station or indicate its geographic location with a duty cycle of more than 10 seconds in any period of 60 minutes;
(k) operate a CB station to transmit on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of Schedule 1 within 70 kilometres distance from the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory if the transmission will cause interference with the operation of radio astronomy observations by the observatory.
Note On the day on which the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2011 (No. 2) comes into force, the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory is situated at latitude 26.704167 South, longitude 116.658889 East (GDA94).
7 Operating a CB station to transmit audio tones
A person, when operating a CB station to transmit audio tones for initiating communications with another CB station, must:
(a) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 1, only transmit audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
(b) on a carrier frequency mentioned in item 4, 5, 7 or 8 of Schedule 1, only transmit:
(i) audible tones for less than 3 seconds in any period of 60 seconds; or
(ii) subaudible tones.
Note Subaudible tones are used in continuous tone coded squelch systems (CTCSS).
8 Condition relating to a CB station that operates through a CB repeater station
A person must not, except for the purpose of transmitting to a CB repeater station, operate a CB station on a channel mentioned in item 5 or 8 in Schedule 1 within the operational range of a CB repeater station.
9 Directions
(1) A person must comply with a direction that:
(a) relates to the operation of a CB station by the person; and
(b) is given to the person by a person referred to in subsection (3); and
(c) is described in subsection (4).
(2) A person must comply with a direction that:
(a) relates to interference to radiocommunications that:
(i) is likely to be caused by the alteration, installation or maintenance of a CB station, or of accessory apparatus for use with a CB station, by the person; or
(ii) is, or is likely to be, caused by the operation of a CB station by the person; and
(b) is given to the person in writing by an inspector.
(3) For paragraph (1) (b), a direction may be given by any of the following persons acting in the performance of his or her duties:
(a) a member of the Australian Federal Police;
(b) a member of the police force of a State or Territory;
(c) an officer of the Defence Force;
(d) an officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority who is employed in the Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia ;
(e) an officer mentioned in Schedule 2 to the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.
(4) A direction that is referred to in subsection (1) must be reasonably necessary to:
(a) secure the safety of an aircraft or a vessel that is in danger; or
(b) deal with an emergency that involves a serious threat to the environment; or
(c) deal with an emergency that involves the risk of death of, or injury to, a person; or
(d) deal with an emergency that involves the risk of substantial damage to, or substantial loss of, property.
10 Condition relating to technical requirements for a CB station with a device compliance day before 20 December 1996
If the device compliance day for a CB station is before 20 December 1996, a person must not operate the CB station on a frequency mentioned in item 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Schedule 1 unless the CB station complies with the requirements of the relevant document.
11 Condition relating to applicable standards for a CB station with a device compliance day on or after 20 December 1996
If the device compliance day for a CB station is on or after 20 December 1996, a person must not operate the CB station unless the CB station complies with each standard made under section 162 of the Act that:
(a) applies to the CB station; and
(b) is in force on the device compliance day.
12 Condition relating to a CB station connected to a telecommunications network
A person must not operate a CB station that is connected to a telecommunications network unless the CB station complies with:
(i) the Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice 2001; or
(ii) the Radiocommunications Devices (Compliance Labelling) Notice 2003,
whichever applies to the CB station.
Schedule 1 CB station operational requirements
(sections 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10)
Part 1 HF
Item
Channel
Carrier Frequency (megahertz)
Restriction
1
11
27.085
Operation of a CB station must only employ AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz.
2
16
27.155
Operation of a CB station must only employ SSB modulation using:(a) LSB; and(b) a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX; and(c) a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.
Operation of a CB station must only employ:(a) AM with a transmitter power not exceeding 4 watts pZ with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 6 kHz; or(b) SSB modulation using USB or LSB with a transmitter power not exceeding 12 watts pX and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 3 kHz.
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channels 5 or 35.(c) Communication with another CB station is not authorised on channels 1-8 and channels 31-38 within operational range of a CB repeater station.
(a) Operation of a CB station must only employ F3E or G3E with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts pZ and with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz.(b) The use of audio tones, including subaudible tones, for initiating communications with another CB station, is not authorised on channel 35.Note Reception from CB repeater stations utilises channels 1-8.
6
2223
476.950476.975
A transmitter employed in a CB station:(a) must operate with a transmitter power not exceeding 5 watts; and(b) must not exceed an EIRP of 8.3 watts; and(c) must operate with an occupied bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz; and(d) must not exceed a carrier frequency error of ±3 kHz; and(e) must not exceed an adjacent channel power of –22 dBm; and(f) must not exceed a conducted spurious emission of –30 dBm; and(g) must operate on a duty cycle of notmore than 10 seconds in any period of 60 minutes; and(h) must be fitted with a device that shuts the transmitter down after 3 minutes of continuous operation.A receiver employed in a CB station must operate with a conducted spurious emission not exceeding –57 dBm.Note The use of single frequency store and forward repeaters is permitted.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableColHead"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableColHead"><span>Description of document</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately</span><span>‑</span><span>operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234’), published by the Postmaster</span><span>‑</span><span>General’s Department in January 1972</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately</span><span>‑</span><span>operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234’), published by the Postmaster</span><span>‑</span><span>General’s Department in January 1974</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radio telephone service’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234A’), published by the Postmaster</span><span>‑</span><span>General’s Department in January 1974</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in privately</span><span>‑</span><span>operated land and harbour mobile radio telephone services’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in July 1976</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radio telephone service’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234A’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1976</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for radio equipment employed in land and harbour mobile radiotelephone services’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>234B’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in December 1977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:39.7pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for 27</span><span> </span><span>MHz radiotelephony equipment employed in the citizen band radio service’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>249’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1978</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"></td><td style="width:38.85pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>8</span></p></td><td style="width:357.75pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for UHF radio equipment employed in the citizen band radio service’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>250’), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1978</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"></td><td style="width:38.85pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:11.35pt"><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:357.75pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Specification for 40 channel 27</span><span> </span><span>MHz radiotelephony equipment employed in the citizen band radiocommunication service’ (also known as ‘RB</span><span> </span><span>249A’), published by the Department of Communications in December 1981</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"></td><td style="width:38.85pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:5.65pt"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:357.75pt; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Ministerial Standard 250’ (the standard for radiocommunications equipment used in the citizen band radio service and operating on frequencies exceeding 30</span><span> </span><span>megahertz), published in the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Gazette</span><span> on 29</span><span> </span><span>April 1988 (Statutory Rules 1988 No. 69), and as in force on 1 May 1988</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"></td><td style="width:38.85pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText" style="margin-left:5.65pt"><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:357.75pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText"><span>‘Ministerial Standard 312’ (the standard for radiocommunications equipment used in the citizen band radio service and operating on frequencies not exceeding 30</span><span> </span><span>megahertz), published in the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Gazette </span><span>on 29</span><span> </span><span>April 1988 (Statutory Rules 1988 No. 70), and as in force on 1 May 1988.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:0pt"><td style="width:0.75pt"></td><td style="width:49.65pt"></td><td style="width:368.55pt"></td></tr></tbody></table>
Notes to the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002
Note 1
Note: The Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002 (in force under sections 132 (1) and 135 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Note: > Note: Table of Instruments
Title
Date of notificationin Gazette or FRLI registration
Date ofcommencement
Application, saving ortransitional provisions
Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002
13 Feb 2002 (see Gazette 2002,No. GN6)
13 Feb 2002
Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2011 (No. 1)
26 May 2011 (see F2011L00862)19 May 2011 (see (Gazette 2011, No. S82))
27 May 2011 (sees. 2 (a))
—
Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence Variation 2011 (No. 2)
22 July 2011 (see F2011L01524)
27 July 2011 (sees. 2 (b) and Gazette 2011, No. GN29)