Technical Planning Guidelines (December 2003)

2 These guidelines apply to broadcasting licensees and datacasting licensees.

Licence area plan

3. Where they relate to analog broadcasting services these guidelines complement, and are to be read in conjunction with, the technical specifications of any relevant LAP prepared pursuant to section 26 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. To the extent that those technical specifications are inconsistent with pre-existing transmitter licence conditions, the LAP specifications will prevail.

4. The technical operating specifications of a transmitter shall comply with the technical specifications of the relevant LAP.

Digital channel plan

4A. Where they relate to digital television broadcasting and datacasting services these guidelines complement, and are to be read in conjunction with, the technical specifications of any relevant DCP prepared pursuant to:

1.           the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated by the ABA under subclause 6(1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;
2.           the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated by the ABA under subclause 19(1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

4B. The technical operating specifications of a transmitter shall comply with the technical specifications of the relevant DCP unless those technical specifications are revised in an approved implementation plan, in which case the technical specifications of the approved implementation plan will be applied.

The broadcasting services bands

5. The Minister, under subsection 18(3) of the Radiocommunications Act 1983, assigned certain parts of the radiofrequency spectrum designated as primarily for broadcasting (the broadcasting services bands) to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) for planning. Under section 4 of the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992 this assignment is deemed to be spectrum referred to the ABA under section 31 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

6. The broadcasting services bands are:

• 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz in the medium frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. AM radio services are allocated frequencies in this range.  
• 45 to 52 MHz and 56 to 70 MHz (Band I) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services are allocated frequencies in this range.  
• 85 to 108 MHz (Band II) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services were allocated frequencies in this range, however 87.5 to 108 MHz has been set aside internationally for FM radio and the ABA will consider, as part of the public planning process, future clearance of television services occupying this part of the spectrum. No new television services will be allocated Band II frequencies.  
• 137 to 144 MHz (channel 5A) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog television services were allocated frequencies in this range, however no new assignments will be made of these frequencies.  
• 174 to 230 MHz (Band III) in the very high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog and digital television services are allocated frequencies in this range.  
• 520 to 820 MHz (Bands IV and V) in the ultra high frequency band of the radiofrequency spectrum. Analog and digital television services are allocated frequencies in this range.

Australian Broadcasting Authority planning handbooks

7. Detailed information on methods for planning of analog broadcasting services is contained in the ABA’s Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting. It provides, inter alia, information on ABA planning practices and assumptions, including acceptable methods of computing field strengths and other parameters for compliance with these guidelines and other specifications of the transmitter licence.

7A. For digital television and datacasting services, the information in Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting is supplemented by the ABA’s Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook.

(Wherever possible the definitions of terms below are consistent with the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the ITU Radio Regulations. Unless defined below, words shall have the same meanings as in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, or the Radiocommunications Act 1992, or the ITU Radio Regulations, as appropriate)

8. In these guidelines, unless the contrary intention appears:

‘ABA’ means the Australian Broadcasting Authority established under section 154 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘ACA’ means the Australian Communications Authority established under the Australian Communications Authority Act 1997;

‘AM radio’ means medium frequency, amplitude modulated radio services located in the frequency range 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz;

‘AM radio service’ includes an AM radio broadcasting service, an AM radio national broadcasting service, and an AM radio narrowcasting service;

‘analog reference television receiving system’ [see the definition of ‘reference television receiving system’];

‘analog television’ means television services using analog modulation techniques located in the frequency ranges 45 MHz to 230 MHz and 520 MHz to 820 MHz;

‘analog television service’ includes an analog television broadcasting service, an analog television national broadcasting service, and an analog television narrowcasting service;

‘authorised person’ means a person authorised under Division 4 of Part 3.3 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992;

‘broadcasting licensee’ means a holder of an apparatus licence authorising the operation of a transmitter under section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act 1992;

‘broadcasting service’ means a service that delivers television programs or radio programs in the broadcasting services bands, using a transmitter licence issued under section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act 1992;

‘broadcasting services bands’ has the meaning set out in clause 6 of these guidelines;

‘channel’ means part of the radiofrequency spectrum intended to be used for an emission and which may be defined by two specified limits, or by its centre frequency and associated bandwidth, or by an equivalent indication;

Note   Channel arrangements applicable to AM radio, FM radio, analog television and digital television are described in the respective emission standards, set out in the appendices to these guidelines.

‘cymomotive force (CMF)’ is the product formed by multiplying the electric field strength at a given point in space, due to a transmitting station, by the distance of the point from the antenna. CMF can only be calculated if the distance from the transmitting antenna is sufficient for reactive effects to be negligible; moreover, the finite conductivity of the ground is presumed to have no effect on propagation. CMF is expressed in volts and corresponds numerically to the field strength, in mV/m, at a distance of 1 km;

‘datacasting licensee’ means any holder of a datacasting transmitter licence;

‘datacasting service’ has the same meaning as in subsection 6(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, where it uses a datacasting transmitter licence issued under the Radiocommunications Act 1992;

‘datacasting service area’ means the geographical area in which the ABA has made available a channel for use by a datacasting service, as described in the relevant determination made under section 34 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘device’ has the same meaning as in section 9(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992;

‘Digital Channel Plan (DCP)’ means an instrument developed by the ABA under:

1.           the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated under subclause 6(1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992; or

2.           the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999 (as amended) formulated under subclause 19(1) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992,

that determines which channels are to be allotted in each area, the technical limitations and characteristics of those channels, and the channel assignments - either to broadcasters or as “unassigned” channels;

‘digital reference television receiving system’ [see the definition of ‘reference television receiving system’];

‘digital television’ means television services using digital modulation techniques located in the frequency ranges 174 MHz to 230 MHz and 520 MHz to 820 MHz;

‘digital television service’ includes a digital television broadcasting service and a digital national television broadcasting service;

‘effective radiated power (ERP)’ in a specified direction is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and its gain relative to a half-wave dipole in the specified direction;

‘EMC calculations’ means calculations that detail the ability of a transmitter to operate without causing interference to another radiocommunications service. EMC calculations must take into account possible interference occurrences due to intermodulation, harmonic products, local oscillator radiation and co-channel and adjacent channel services;

Note   Radiocommunications services include broadcasting services, national broadcasting services and datacasting services.

‘FM radio’ means very high frequency, frequency modulated radio services located in the frequency range 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz;

‘FM radio service’ includes an FM radio broadcasting service, an FM radio national broadcasting service, and an FM radio narrowcasting service (other than a low power open narrowcasting service);

‘guidelines’ means the technical planning guidelines set out in this document (and its appendices), as developed by the ABA pursuant to section 33 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘implementation plan’ means one or more plans related to the implementation of digital television transmission under clause 9 or 20 of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The processes for the lodgement and variation of implementation plans are described in the Commercial Television Conversion Scheme 1999 and the National Television Conversion Scheme 1999;

‘interference’ means:

1.           in relation to radiocommunications - interference to, or with, radiocommunications that is attributable, whether wholly or partly and whether directly or indirectly, to an emission of electromagnetic energy by a device; or
2.           in relation to the uses or functions of devices - interference to, or with, those uses or functions that is attributable, whether wholly or partly and whether directly or indirectly, to an emission of electromagnetic energy by a device;

Note   Clarifications on the level of interference allowed for analog or digital television or datacasting services is given in Parts 5 and 6 of these guidelines.

‘licence area’ means an area designated by the ABA under section 29, 40 or 92G of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘licence area plan (LAP)’ means a licence area plan prepared by the ABA pursuant to section 26 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘licensee’ means either a ‘broadcasting licensee’ or a ‘datacasting licensee’;

‘locality’ means an area designated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as a locality at the 2001 Census;

Note   In broad terms, a locality corresponds to a population cluster of between 200 and 999 people.

‘low power open narrowcasting service’ means an open narrowcasting service operating with an effective radiated power not exceeding 1 watt (W) in a residential area and an effective radiated power not exceeding 10 W in a non-residential area;

‘narrowcasting service’ means a subscription or open narrowcasting service under section 17 or section 18 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992;

‘narrowcasting service area’ means the geographical area in which the ABA has made available a channel for use by a narrowcasting service, as described in the LAP or transmitter licence;

‘national broadcasting service’ means an AM or FM radio or analog or digital television broadcasting service provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation or the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation;

‘national signal reception area’ means the signal reception area of a national broadcasting service. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP, DCP or transmitter licence conditions, the signal reception area of a national broadcasting service is defined as:

1.           For AM radio – the area in which the ground wave median field strength is equal to, or greater than, 0.5 mV/m;
2.           For FM radio – the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, 54 dBV/m;
3.           For analog television – the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 5.1; and
4.           For digital television – the area in which the median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 6.1;

‘nominal location’ means the location of the transmitter specified in a LAP or DCP;

‘planned minimum field strength’ means the minimum median field strength planned for a service and for which protection is afforded against interference. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP, DCP or transmitter licence conditions, the planned minimum field strength is defined as:

1.           For AM radio – 0.5 mV/m;
2.           For FM radio – 54 dBV/m;
3.           For analog television – the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 5.1; and
4.           For digital television – the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 6.1;

Note   A higher median field strength may be specified for some broadcasting services. For example, a service providing a suburban or urban grade of service in an area for which protection to the lower median field strength is not required, or an interference limited service.

‘reference television receiving system’ means a television receiving system comprising a receiver and an antenna system. For analog television systems the reference television receiver is defined in Attachment 5C.BB of Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting. For digital television systems the reference television receiver is defined in Appendices B and E of the ABA’s Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Planning Handbook, supplemented by data on antenna directivity discrimination and orthogonal wave polarisation discrimination in Attachment 5C.BB of Technical Planning Parameters and Methods for Terrestrial Broadcasting;

‘related licence’ means the licence allocated or deemed to have been allocated under Part 4, Part 6 or Part 6A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to which the transmitter licence issued pursuant to section 101A, 102 or 102A of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 relates;

‘residential area’ means the area within 20 km of the boundary of an urban centre or locality;

‘single frequency network (SFN)’ means a network comprising two or more transmitters that operate on the same frequency and transmit identical data streams with controlled timing between the transmitters;

‘technical operating specifications’ of a transmitter include all the characteristics of the transmitter in operation, including site, height of the transmitting antenna, frequency and radiation pattern;

‘transmitter’ means:

1.           anything designed or intended for radio emission; or
2.           any other thing, irrespective of its use or function or the purpose of its design, that is capable of radio emission.

In Part 3: AM radio, transmitter means a transmitter authorised to transmit an AM radio service. In Part 4: FM radio, transmitter means a transmitter authorised to transmit an FM radio service. In Part 5: analog television, transmitter means a transmitter authorised to transmit an analog television service. In Part 6: digital television, transmitter means a transmitter authorised to transmit a digital television or datacasting service;

‘transmitter licence’ includes a broadcasting service transmitter licence, a national broadcasting service transmitter licence, a narrowcasting service transmitter licence and a datacasting service transmitter licence;

‘unwanted’, in the context of an unwanted signal or unwanted service, means the signal or service that may cause interference under the specified circumstances or conditions;

‘urban centre’ means an area designated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as an urban centre at the 2001 Census; and

Note   In broad terms, an urban centre corresponds to a population cluster of 1,000 or more people.

‘wanted’, in the context of a wanted signal or wanted service, means the signal or service that may experience, or suffer from, interference under the specified circumstances or conditions.

9. All field strength predictions and measurements are to be made at a receive height of 10 metres above ground. Any specified field strength shall be predicted on the basis that the field strength would be exceeded at more than 50% of locations for more than 50% of the time.

Note   At VHF and UHF frequencies, location variability is typically quoted for an area represented by a square with a side of 100 metres to 200 metres.

10. Headings in these guidelines are for convenient reference only and have no effect in limiting or extending the language of the guidelines to which they refer.

11. Words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.

PART 1: START UP PROCEDURE

Application of Part 1

12. The following procedure shall be followed by a licensee (except a licensee to which Part 7 applies) or authorised person when:

1.           planning to establish a transmitter to transmit a broadcasting service or datacasting service; or
2.           planning to change the technical operating specifications of a transmitter which is authorised for transmitting a broadcasting service or datacasting service (other than a change of transmission site – see Part 2: Change of Transmitter Site Procedure).

Start up procedure

13. The start up procedure is as follows:

1.           A licensee or an authorised person is required to place advertisements in newspapers circulating within the licence area or datacasting service area of the licence at least seven days prior to the commencement of test transmissions. The advertisement is to advise members of the public to contact the licensee or authorised person if the broadcast causes interference to other radiocommunications. The advertisement must detail the date and time of commencement of the test transmissions, the duration of the test transmissions, the frequency being used and the appropriate person’s contact details including the address and telephone number of the person responsible for the tests.

2.           A licensee or an authorised person shall advise:

3.             the ABA; and

4.          the local ACA office; and

5.        other broadcasting licensees and national broadcasting licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and

6.         datacasting licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and

7.           narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) licensees that provide services within the licence area or datacasting service area; and

8.         other broadcasting licensees and national broadcasting licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area; and

9.      datacasting licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area; and

10.    narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) licensees that provide services in areas adjacent to the licence area or datacasting service area,

of the date and proposed technical operating specifications of the test transmissions at least seven days prior to the commencement of test transmissions and provide contact details including the address and telephone numbers of the person responsible for the tests.

Note   The ABA may require the licensee or authorised person to submit copies of press advertisements or other notifications mentioned in paragraph (a) and (b) of guideline 13.

1.           Where practicable, test transmissions should include regular voice announcements, or, in the case of an analog television broadcasting service, voice or visual information, identifying the licensee or authorised person and providing sufficient details for members of the public to contact the licensee or authorised person if the broadcast causes interference to other radiocommunications.
2.           A licensee or an authorised person shall undertake test transmissions in accordance with this procedure for a period of at least seven (7) days.
3.           The licensee shall, for a period of at least seven (7) days, conduct test transmissions in accordance with the technical operating specifications that the licensee intends to apply to the transmissions after the test procedure is complete.
4.            The licensee or an authorised person is required to undertake any necessary further planning so as to eliminate or minimise interference identified during the test transmissions.
5.           All interference caused by the transmissions in guideline 13(e) above should be eliminated or minimised before the test transmission procedure is completed.
6.           Interference assessment reports and documentation of any relevant calculations are to be made available on request to the ABA or the ACA. Information on interference assessment investigations shall also be provided on request to any person claiming to be adversely affected due to interference as a result of the operation of the licensee’s transmitter during the period of the test transmissions.

PART 2: CHANGE OF TRANSMITTER SITE PROCEDURE

Application of Part 2

14. The following procedure shall be followed by a licensee or authorised person when proposing to locate a transmitter at a site that is not at:

1.           the current location; or
2.           the location specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence; or
3.           the location specified in the technical specifications of a LAP or DCP (or an approved implementation plan).

Change of transmitter site procedure

15. The change of transmitter site procedure is as follows:

1.           The licensee or an authorised person shall cause appropriate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) calculations to be performed by a person competent to carry out such calculations.

Note   For services described in a LAP or DCP, calculations are to be performed assuming maximum ERP specifications as set out in the LAP or DCP.

1.           The licensee or an authorised person shall then provide to the ABA the EMC calculations together with a completed application for a test transmission licence.

2.           If the ABA is satisfied that:

3.             the EMC calculations indicate that operation from the alternate site will not cause interference to radiocommunications services, including any existing broadcasting services, national broadcasting services, narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) services or datacasting services, or any service described in a LAP or DCP; and

4.          the relevant guidelines will be sufficiently complied with,

then the ABA will allocate a test transmission licence.

Note   The licensee must comply with all relevant guidelines at the new location. The ABA may request the licensee or authorised person to submit supplementary information to demonstrate compliance with relevant requirements included in these guidelines.

1.           The licensee or an authorised person may then conduct test transmissions in accordance with the terms of the test transmission licence.

Note   The conditions attaching to this licence will be substantially similar to those for the start up procedure (see Part 1 of these guidelines).

1.           The licensee or an authorised person shall then provide to the ABA the results of the test transmissions including any interference assessment reports and details of any complaints of interference received during the conduct of the tests, together with a completed application form seeking a variation of the transmitter licence.

2.            If the ABA is satisfied that:

3.             the results of the tests demonstrate that operation from the alternative site will not cause interference to radiocommunications services including any existing broadcasting services, national broadcasting services, narrowcasting (except low power open narrowcasting) services or datacasting services, or any service described in a LAP or DCP; and

4.          all other relevant requirements of these guidelines will be complied with upon commencement of transmissions from the new site,

then the ABA or the ACA will vary the conditions attaching to the transmitter licence.

16. Interference assessment reports and documentation of any relevant EMC calculations are to be made available on request to the ABA or the ACA.  Information on interference assessment investigations shall also be provided on request to any person claiming to be adversely affected due to interference as a result of the operation of the licensee’s transmitter during the period of the test transmissions.

PART 3: AM RADIO

Application of Part 3

17. This part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an AM radio broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz band of the radiofrequency spectrum.

18. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.

Cymomotive Force (CMF)

19. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the CMF of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum CMF specified in the LAP.

20. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the CMF of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

Note 1   Guideline 20 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.

Note 2   The maximum CMF is defined in terms of an envelope specification for all azimuth angles in the horizontal plane. CMF limits may also be specified in the vertical plane where this is necessary to limit skywave interference to other AM radio services.

21. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the CMF of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the CMF of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the CMF of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum CMF specified in the LAP.

Note   The ABA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. The ABA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.

22. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum CMF requirements specified in guideline 21.

23. For the purpose of application of guideline 22, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median ground wave field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

24. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population of the licence area reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 1000 mV/m.

Note   Guideline 24 deals with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the AM radio receiver.

25. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median ground wave field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:

2.           2.5 mV/m.

26. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median ground wave field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed 2.5 mV/m unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.

27. If the operation of a transmitter causes interference to an AM radio service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to eliminate or minimise the interference.

28. For the purpose of application of guideline 27, an AM radio service will be afforded protection against interference if:

2.           is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
3.           is being received with median ground wave field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

29. In addition to guidelines 27 and 28 (which relate to AM radio services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other radiocommunication services where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee's AM radio broadcasting service.

30. A licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference in areas where the received field strength exceeds 1000 mV/m.

Note   The ABA is obliged to plan for AM broadcasting services in accordance with the Final Acts of the Regional Administrative LF/MF Broadcasting Conference (Regions 1 and 3) Geneva, 1975. Additional or alternative requirements necessary for compliance with the Geneva 75 Plan will be reflected in the LAP or technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

31. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Amplitude Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service (see appendix 1).

PART 4: FM RADIO 

Application of Part 4

32. This part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an FM radio broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 87.5 to 108 MHz band of the radiofrequency spectrum.

33. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.

Required field strength between adjacent frequencies

34. If:

1.           a transmitter (the ‘first transmitter’) is not sited at the nominal location; and
2.           the frequency specified in the LAP for the transmitter is separated by 800 kHz from a frequency specified for use by another transmitter at the nominal location of the first transmitter,

then, unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, the licensee must ensure that the difference in received field strength between signals from the transmitters does not exceed 24 dB in any urban centre or locality that is within the licence area of either service.

36. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.

37. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

Note   Guideline 37 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.

38. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the ERP of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.

Note   The ABA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. The ABA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.

39. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum ERP requirements specified in guideline 38.

40. For the purpose of application of guideline 39, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

Maximum antenna height

41. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground does not exceed the maximum height specified in the LAP.

42. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

Note   Guideline 42 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.

43. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above Australian Height Datum does not exceed the maximum antenna height above Australian Height Datum at the nominal location permitted by the LAP.

Note   The LAP specifies the maximum antenna height above ground at the nominal location. To determine the equivalent antenna height above Australian Height Datum, the maximum antenna height specified in the LAP must be added to the height above Australian Height Datum of the nominal location.

44. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population of the licence area reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.

45. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population of the licence area resides in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.

Note 1   Guidelines 44 and 45 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the FM radio receiver.

Note 2   Subject to guidelines 41 to 43, the height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 44 and 45.

46. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:

2.           54 dBV/m.

47. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed 54 dBV/m unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.

48. If the operation of a transmitter causes interference to an FM radio service, analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to eliminate or minimise the interference.

49. For the purpose of application of guideline 48, an FM radio service, analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service will be afforded protection against interference if:

1.           operating within the terms of the relevant LAP, DCP (or approved implementation plan) or transmitter licence conditions, as appropriate; and
2.           is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area, narrowcasting service area or datacasting service area, as applicable; and
3.           is being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

50. In addition to guidelines 48 and 49 (which relate to FM radio services, analog television services, digital television services and datacasting services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other radiocommunication services where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee’s FM radio broadcasting service.

51. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Frequency Modulation Sound Broadcasting Service (see appendix 2).

PART 5: ANALOG TELEVISION

Application of Part 5

53. This part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, an analog television broadcasting service occupying a channel in the 45 to 52 MHz, 56 to 70 MHz, 85 to 108 MHz, 137 to 144 MHz, 174 to 230 MHz, or 520 to 820 MHz bands of the radiofrequency spectrum.

54. The transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence, unless otherwise stated in the technical specifications of the LAP.

Note   The transmitter should desirably be located so that, for a particular broadcasting band, viewers within population centres of the licence area of the service are able to receive all television services licensed to serve that area by means of a single outdoor antenna appropriate for that band.

56. Regardless of the location of the transmitter site, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.

57. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

Note   Guideline 57 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.

58. Unless otherwise specified in the LAP or transmitter licence conditions, a licensee is required to provide a minimum level of service within the licence area. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and an omnidirectional pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location and a directional radiation pattern is specified for the transmitter in the LAP, the ERP of the transmission is to be no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP, over at least 60 per cent of each defined arc. The licensee must ensure that the ERP of the transmission in the direction of any urban centre within the licence area is no more than 5 dB below the maximum ERP specified in the LAP.

Note   The ABA in considering whether to exercise its discretion in relation to the minimum power of a service will have regard to the fact that operation at power levels below that planned for the service may result in interference to the service. The ABA’s planning framework will not generally protect services from interference in these circumstances.

59. If a transmitter is not sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall provide at least a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area that would have received a service from a transmitter operating from the nominal location at the minimum ERP requirements specified in guideline 58.

60. For the purpose of application of guideline 59, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

Table 5.1: Minimum median field strength figures for analog television

(50% of locations, 50% of the time, measured at 10 metres above ground level – see guideline 9)

| TV Transmission Band | Frequency Range (MHz) | Field Strength (dBµV/m) | | I | 45 ‑   70 | 50 | | II | 85 ‑ 108 | 50 | | III | 137 ‑ 230 | 50 | | IV | 520 ‑ 582 | 62 | | V | 582 ‑ 820 | 67 |

Maximum antenna height

61. If a transmitter is sited at the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground does not exceed the maximum height specified in the LAP.

62. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above ground shall not exceed that specified in the technical conditions of the transmitter licence.

Note   Guideline 62 does not preclude a licensee seeking a variation of the relevant licence condition.

63. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee shall ensure that the height of the electrical centre of the transmitting antenna above Australian Height Datum does not exceed the maximum antenna height above Australian Height Datum at the nominal location permitted by the LAP.

Note   The LAP specifies the maximum antenna height above ground at the nominal location. To calculate the equivalent antenna height above Australian Height Datum, the maximum antenna height specified in the LAP must be added to the height above Australian Height Datum of the nominal location.

64. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.

65. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.

Note 1   Guidelines 64 and 65 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the analog television receiver.

Note 2   Subject to guidelines 61 to 63, the height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 64 and 65.

66. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary does not exceed the greater of:

2.           the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 5.1.

67. If there is no technical specification specified in a LAP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 5.1 unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.

68. A licensee of an analog television broadcasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to an analog television service that is:

2.           being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
3.           being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

69. For the purpose of application of guideline 68, it is assumed that analog television services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the analog reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the analog reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the analog reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the analog reference television receiving system.

70. For the purpose of application of guideline 68 to co-channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means degradation in the ratio of wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of an analog reference television receiving system, of 2 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co-channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 40 dB or less.

71. A licensee of an analog television broadcasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to a digital television service or a datacasting service that:

1.           commenced operation prior to that analog service; and
2.           is operating within the terms of the relevant DCP (or approved implementation plan) or datacasting transmitter licence, as appropriate; and
3.           is being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or datacasting service area, as applicable; and
4.           is being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

72. For the purpose of application of guideline 71, it is assumed that digital television services or datacasting services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the digital reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the digital reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the digital reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the digital reference television receiving system.

73. For the purpose of application of guideline 71 to co-channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means degradation in the ratio of the wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of a digital reference television receiving system, of 1 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co-channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 3 dB or less.

74. If the operation of a transmitter causes unacceptable interference to an analog television service, digital television service or datacasting service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to reduce the interference to a level that is no longer unacceptable interference.

75. In addition to the conditions of guidelines 68 to 74 (which relate to analog television services, digital television services and datacasting services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other radiocommunication services where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee's analog television broadcasting service.

76. Where the same set of analog television services can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the sets of services, but not necessarily all of the sets of the same services, is protected against interference from the unwanted service. Similarly, where multiple transmissions of the same analog television service can be received from a single transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least a UHF transmission is protected against interference from the unwanted service.

77. Where the same digital television service or datacasting service can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the signals is protected against interference from the unwanted service.

78. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with the Emission Standard for the Australian Analog Terrestrial Television Service (see appendix 3).

PART 6: DIGITAL TELEVISION

Application of Part 6

79. This part of the guidelines applies to a licensee or an authorised person who intends to implement, or change the technical operating specification of, a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupying a channel in the 174 to 230 MHz, or 520 to 820 MHz bands of the radiofrequency spectrum.

80. Unless otherwise specified in the technical specifications of the DCP (or approved implementation plan), the transmitter site shall be located within the licence area of the related licence or within the datacasting service area of the datacasting service, whichever is applicable.

Note   The transmitter should desirably be located so that, for a particular broadcasting band, viewers within population centres of the licence area or datacasting service area are able to receive all television services licensed to serve that area by means of a single outdoor antenna appropriate for that band.

81. If a transmitter intended to serve a particular area is not sited at the nominal location, the ERP of the transmission in any given direction from the alternative site shall not exceed that specified for the nominal location in the DCP.

Note 1   Guideline 81 does not preclude a licensee from making an application to vary a DCP where operation at higher ERP levels is required.

Note 2   Guideline 106 deals with the situation where a licensee proposes to operate transmitters additional to those included in a DCP.

82. Under the policy objectives given in 6(3) (f) of Schedule 4 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, ‘.. as soon as is practicable after the start of the simulcast period for a licence area, and throughout the remainder of that period, the transmission of a commercial television broadcasting service in SDTV digital mode in that area should achieve the same level of coverage and potential reception quality as is achieved by the transmission of that service in analog mode in that area’. The DCPs provide the ERP levels expected to meet this objective, and where applicable, any ERP restrictions that need to be applied to protect specified analog television services from interference.

83. After the simulcast period mentioned in guideline 82, transmitters providing digital television broadcasting services (i.e. not datacasting services) which operate from a site, or sites, other than the nominal location(s) specified in the DCP shall at least provide a minimum level of service to those urban centres in the licence area of the related licence that would have received a service from a transmitter (or transmitters) operating from the nominal location(s).

84. For the purpose of application of guideline 83, the minimum level of service in an urban centre is achieved if the received median field strength is equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

Note   No Minimum Level of Service Requirements are applicable to datacasting services. However, protection of a datacasting service against interference from other services will only be provided on the basis that the datacasting service provides a median field strength equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

85. In applying guidelines 82, 83 and 84, changes to sites or operating parameters of transmitters after the simulcast period should not cause a reduction in the level of service that was being provided during the simulcast period.

Table 6.1: Minimum median field strength figures for digital television

(50% of locations, 50% of the time, measured at 10 metres above ground level – see guideline 9)

| TV Transmission Band | Frequency Range (MHz) | Field Strength (dBµV/m) | | III | 174 ‑ 230 | 44 | | IV | 520 ‑ 582 | 50 | | V | 582 ‑ 820 | 54 |

Maximum field strength within the licence area or datacasting service area

86. A transmitter shall be sited so that not more than 1 per cent of the total population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 110 dBµV/m.

87. A transmitter shall not be sited so that a significant part of the population receiving at least the planned minimum field strength reside in areas with received field strengths greater than 120 dBµV/m (1 V/m). For the purpose of this guideline, 0.1 per cent of the population or 100 persons, whichever is less, constitutes a ‘significant part’.

Note 1   Guidelines 86 and 87 deal with potential interference and/or degradation in receiver performance due to excessive signal levels at the input terminals of the digital television receiver.

Note 2   The height of the antenna above ground level and/or the vertical radiation pattern may be altered to assist in complying with guidelines 86 and 87.

Maximum field strength beyond the licence area or datacasting service area

88. If a transmitter is sited at a location other than the nominal location, the licensee must ensure that the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary or datacasting service area boundary (whichever is applicable) does not exceed the greater of:

1.           the field strength, for the frequency band of operation, specified in table 6.1.

89. If there is no technical specification specified in a DCP for a transmitter, the median field strength of the transmission in any urban centre beyond the licence area boundary must not exceed the field strength for the frequency band of operation specified in table 6.1 unless otherwise specified in the transmitter licence conditions.

90. A licensee of a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to an analog television service that is:

2.           being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or narrowcasting service area, as applicable; and
3.           being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

91. For the purpose of application of guideline 90, it is assumed that analog television services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the analog reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the analog reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the analog reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the analog reference television receiving system.

92. For the purpose of application of guideline 90 to co-channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means degradation in the ratio of the wanted to unwanted signals, at the receiver input terminals of an analog reference television receiving system, of 2 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co-channel ratio of wanted to unwanted signals is 41 dB or less.

93. For the purpose of application of guideline 90 to adjacent channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means that the digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupies a channel that is adjacent to an analog television service and the relative level of the unwanted digital signal is more than 5 dB above the level of the wanted analog signal when measured at the receiver input terminal of an analog reference television receiving system. This value applies equally for upper or lower adjacent channel combinations.

94. Practical application of guideline 93 should take account of variable factors affecting the relative levels of the received adjacent channel transmissions. Where adjacent channel transmissions are provided from a common antenna an allowance of 5 dB shall be applied (i.e. a ratio of wanted to unwanted signals of 0 dB). Cases involving transmissions from different antennas require case-by-case consideration.

95. Where the same set of analog television services can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the sets of services, but not necessarily all of the sets of the same services, is protected against interference from the unwanted service. Similarly, where multiple transmissions of the same analog television service can be received from a single transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least a UHF transmission is protected against interference from the unwanted service.

96. A licensee of a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service shall not cause unacceptable interference to a digital television service or datacasting service that is:

1.           operating within the terms of the relevant DCP (or approved implementation plan) or datacasting transmitter licence, as appropriate; and

2.           being received within its licence area, national signal reception area or datacasting service area, as applicable; and

3.           being received with median field strengths equal to, or greater than, the planned minimum field strength.

97. For the purpose of application of guideline 96, it is assumed that digital television services or datacasting services are being received using a television receiving system that has equivalent performance to the digital reference television receiving system. Where receiving systems are employed which have inferior performance to that of the digital reference television receiving system, or where their performance exceeds the performance of the digital reference television receiving system in ways that make them more sensitive to interference, interference protection will only be afforded to the level provided by the digital reference television receiving system.

98. For the purpose of application of guideline 96 to co-channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means degradation in the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference ratio, at the receiver input terminals of a digital reference television receiving system, of 1 dB or more due to the unwanted service, where the resulting co-channel carrier-to-noise-plus-interference ratio is 20 dB or less.

99. For the purpose of application of guideline 96 to adjacent channel interference, ‘unacceptable interference’ means that the digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service occupies a channel that is adjacent to a digital television or datacasting service and the relative level of the unwanted digital signal is more than 30 dB above the level of the wanted digital signal when measured at the receiver input terminal of a digital reference television receiving system. This value applies equally for upper or lower adjacent channel combinations.

100. Practical application of guideline 99 should take account of variable factors affecting the relative levels of the received adjacent channel transmissions. Where adjacent channel transmissions are provided from a common antenna an allowance of 5 dB shall be applied (i.e. a ratio of wanted to unwanted signals of -25 dB). Cases involving transmissions from different antennas require case-by-case consideration.

101. If the operation of a transmitter causes unacceptable interference to a digital television service or datacasting service, the licensee must (at the licensee’s own expense) adjust, or fit devices to, the transmitter or the affected receivers, or undertake other measures in order to reduce the interference to a level that is no longer unacceptable interference.

Note   Part 7 of these guidelines deal with the digital licensee’s responsibilities in the event of interference to an analog television service.

102. Where the same digital television service or datacasting service can be received from more than one transmission site with signal levels above the planned minimum field strength, application of these guidelines shall ensure that the reception of at least one of the signals is protected against interference from the unwanted service.

103. If a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service:

1.           does not provide a service from a transmission site included in a DCP technical specification; or
2.           operates at an alternative site from that specified in the DCP technical specification; or
3.           operates from an additional site not included in a DCP technical specification (see guideline 106), then,

the service will be afforded protection against interference from other digital television services or datacasting services included in the DCP based on the assumption that it is operating from the nominal location(s) included in the DCP.

104. In addition to the conditions of guidelines 90 to 103 (which relate to analog television services, digital television services and datacasting services), a licensee shall, in consultation with affected parties, resolve complaints of interference to other radiocommunication services where that interference is caused by operation of the transmitter pursuant to the licensee's digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service.

Single frequency networks and additional co-channel transmitters

Note 1   The ABA’s planning responsibility is limited to determining channels, nominal transmitter sites and radiation pattern envelope specifications. Detailed design and implementation of Single Frequency Networks (SFNs), including determination of relative ERP levels and timing relationships between signals from each of the transmitters within an SFN, is the responsibility of individual licensees.

Note 2   Through its DCPs the ABA has defined a set of channels, transmission sites and radiation pattern envelope specifications that will permit digital television and datacasting services to be provided. Where a digital television or datacasting licensee proposes to deploy additional transmitters on the same channel as an existing channel allotment within a DCP (i.e. transmitters in addition to those shown in the technical specifications associated with the DCP), it is the licensees responsibility to: ensure that these guidelines, which inter alia deal with interference to other services, are complied with; and, to design and site the additional transmitters to avoid co-channel or adjacent channel interference from other services within the intended coverage area of the additional transmitters.

105. A licensee of a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service may configure co-frequency transmitters whose technical specifications are included in a DCP, into an SFN. However, the licensee is responsible for the detailed implementation and management of internal self-interference within the SFN.

106. A licensee of a digital television broadcasting service or datacasting service may be permitted to establish additional digital transmitters on the same channel as an existing channel allotment within a DCP assignment for that service (which may, or may not, be operated in an SFN arrangement), without requiring a variation to the DCP, subject to the following conditions:

1.           the area to be covered is not adequately served by transmitters operating in accordance with the DCP technical specifications; and

Note 1   Guidelines 82 to 84 define the Minimum Level of Service Requirements for digital television broadcasting services. For the purpose of application of paragraph 106(a) to datacasting services, an area may be considered under served if the received median field strength is less than the planned minimum field strength.

Note 2   For the purpose of application of paragraph 106(a), an area may also be considered under served if an existing co-channel allotment determined in a DCP does not allow sufficient coverage due to self-interference.

1.           transmitter licence applications relating to the additional transmitters are submitted to the ABA; and
2.           the licensee is responsible for managing self-interference arising from the additional co-frequency transmitters, and for resolving co-channel or adjacent channel interference from other services within the intended coverage area of the additional transmitters; and
3.           the characteristics of the additional transmitters comply with guideline 80 (Location of Transmitter Site), 86 and 87 (Maximum Field Strength within the Licence Area or Datacasting Service Area), 89 (Maximum Field Strength beyond the Licence Area or Datacasting Service Area), 90 to 104 (Interference to other Services), 107 (Radiated Signal Characteristics) and with Part 7 (Interference Management Scheme for Digital Television) of these guidelines; and
4.           in addition to the interference conditions set out in guidelines 90, 91, 92 and 95 in respect of co-channel interference to analog television services, where the ratio of wanted to unwanted signals due to existing interferers is 41 dB or less, the interfering field strength from the proposed additional transmission is at least 6 dB below the root-sum-squared value of the existing co-channel interferers; and
5.            in addition to the interference conditions set out in guidelines 96, 97, 98 and 102 in respect of co-channel interference to digital television services or datacasting services, where the ratio of wanted to unwanted signals due to existing interferers is 20 dB or less, the interfering field strength from the proposed additional transmission is at least 10 dB below the root-sum-squared value of the existing co-channel interferers.

107. The radiated signal characteristics of a transmitter shall comply with clause 4.8.2 (Aus) of section 3 of Australian Standard AS4599-1999 Digital Television – Terrestrial Broadcasting – Characteristics of digital terrestrial television transmissions (see appendix 4).

108. Australian Standard AS4599-1999 Digital Television – Terrestrial Broadcasting – Characteristics of digital terrestrial television transmissions provides for a range of options relating to modulation, code rate and guard interval. While other operating modes are not excluded, the ABA will apply a Reference Modulation for planning purposes based on modulation of 64-QAM, code rate of 2/3 and guard interval of 1/8. This leads to a minimum C/N requirement of 20 dB (including implementation margin) for receivers operating in Ricean channels. Operation with other parameters will only be protected to the extent provided by the Reference Modulation.