Part 3AM RADIO

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.