The Authorities

The Department of Communications (The Department)

• Responsible for advising the Minister and formulating major policy decisions for the broadcasting (radio and television), telecommunications, information technology and arts sectors. 
• Relevant agencies under its jurisdiction include the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
• The Department administers key legislation, such as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Radcomms).
• The ACMA is an independent statutory body and the main regulatory authority for the commercial radio sector.  It has responsibility for regulating broadcasting, telecommunications, radiocommunications and online content.
• The ACMA has broad powers under the BSA, including the power to implement government policy through regulation and administrative decisions.
• The ACMA is responsible for planning how the range of frequencies known as the broadcasting services bands (BSB) are used, including the allocations of radio and TV licences to operate within the BSB.  The BSB includes the AM radio bands (i.e. 526.5 KHz to 1606.5 KHz inclusive) and the FM radio bands (i.e. 85 MHz to 108 MHz inclusive).  
• The ACMA has developed licence area plans (LAPs) which cover all geographic areas in Australia. Each LAP contains details such as the number of radio and TV channels that are to be available in that licence area and other technical criteria to which those broadcasters must adhere.
• The ACMA is responsible for investigating and making legally enforceable findings about complaints relating to breaches of the BSA or the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice.

Contact Details

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

• The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) was formed on 1 July 2005, from a merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority.
• ACMA is an independent statutory body and the main regulatory authority for the commercial radio sector. It has responsibility for regulating broadcasting, telecommunications, radiocommunications and online content.
• ACMA has broad powers under the BSA, including the power to implement government policy through regulation and administrative decisions.
• ACMA is responsible for planning how the range of frequencies known as the broadcasting services bands (BSB) are used, including the allocations of radio and TV licences to operate within the BSB.  The BSB include the AM radio bands (i.e. 526.5 KHz to 1606.5 KHz inclusive) and the FM radio bands (i.e. 85 MHz to 108 MHz inclusive).  
• ACMA has developed licence area plans (LAPs) which cover all geographic areas in Australia. Each LAP contains details such as the number of radio and TV channels that are to be available in that licence area and other technical criteria to which those broadcasters must adhere.
• ACMA is responsible for investigating and making legally enforceable findings about complaints relating to breaches of the BSA or the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice.

Contact Details:

Canberra
Postal Address:
PO Box 78
Belconnen
ACT 2616
Telephone: + 61 2 6219 5555
Fax: +61 2 6219 5353