Review of radiocommunications acts

Preliminaries
Cover, Copyright, Signing Page, Terms of reference, Contents, Abbreviations, Glossary

Executive Summaries
Key messages, Overview, Recommendations and findings

1 Reviewing radiocommunications regulation
1.1 How are radiocommunications regulated?
1.2 Scope of this inquiry
1.3 Policy guidelines
1.4 Principles guiding this inquiry
1.5 Other radiocommunications reviews
1.6 Consultation procedures for this inquiry
1.7 Structure of this draft report

2 Characteristics of spectrum markets
2.1 Spectrum characteristics
2.2 Spectrum users
2.3 Spectrum revenue
2.4 Supply
2.5 Emerging technologies
2.6 Implications for competition in spectrum markets

3 Current regulatory arrangements
3.1 History of radiocommunications regulation in Australia
3.2 International regulatory arrangements
3.3 Current Australian legislation
3.4 Licensing approaches
3.5 Current regulatory instruments
3.6 Summary

4 Rationales for intervention
4.1 The case for government intervention
4.2 Managing spectrum
4.3 Ongoing interference management
4.4 Charging for spectrum
4.5 Policy approach

5 Objectives of radiocommunications legislation
5.1 Objectives of the Radiocommunications Act 1992
5.2 Purpose of the objects section
5.3 Efficiency objectives
5.4 Public and community access objectives
5.5 Government and policy objects
5.6 Improving the objects of the Radiocommunications Act 1992

6 Licensing
6.1 Licence types and spectrum use
6.2 Primary assignment
6.3 Security of tenure
6.4 Managing encumbered spectrum
6.5 Conclusion

7 Secondary markets
7.1 Trading and leasing provisions
7.2 Role of secondary markets
7.3 Trading and leasing mechanisms
7.4 Extent of market activity
7.5 Influences on secondary markets
7.6 Competition issues
7.7 Conclusion

8 Charging for spectrum
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Market-based pricing
8.3 Administrative pricing
8.4 Conclusion

9 Managing interference
9.1 Spectrum licensing
9.2 Maintaining registers
9.3 Standards
9.4 Investigations

10 Managing spectrum for non-commercial and broadcasting services
10.1 Current arrangements
10.2 Reasons for special treatment
10.3 Effects on the efficiency of spectrum use
10.4 Policy options
10.5 Conclusion

11 Operations of the Australian Communications Authority
11.1 Australian Communications Authority functions and objectives
11.2 Australian Communications Authority consultation arrangements
11.3 Delegation and accreditation arrangements
11.4 Spectrum licences
11.5 Auctions
11.6 Conclusion

12 The way ahead
12.1 Experience to date
12.2 Impacts on competition
12.3 Improving the licensing system
12.4 Conclusion and summary of recommendations

Appendix A Conduct of inquiry
A.1 Submissions received
A.2 Visits
A.3 Public hearings

Appendix B Spectrum planning
B.1 International Telecommunications Union
B.2 Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan
B.3 Changes to the Spectrum Plan
B.4 Frequency band plans

Appendix C Spectrum management in other countries
C.1 Spectrum regulation agencies
C.2 Types of licence
C.3 Licence fees
C.4 Licence assignment
C.5 Ongoing management

Appendix D Alternative market-based mechanisms
D.1 Introduction
D.2 Alternative assignment mechanisms
D.3 Alternative payment mechanisms

Appendix E Special users
E.1 Defence and national security
E.2 Broadcasting
E.3 Emergency and safety-of-life uses
E.4 Satellites
E.5 Amateur operators
E.6 Bureau of Meteorology

References