The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today laid out its draft plan for the management of Australia’s spectrum – the wireless communications frequencies that carry mobile data, satellite transmissions and broadcast signals.

The draft Five-year spectrum outlook 2024–29 (FYSO) canvasses a range of potential use cases, including increasing the spectrum available for 5G wireless broadband as well as new satellite technologies, both supporting greater network coverage and connectivity.

ACMA authority member and spectrum lead Adam Suckling said the ACMA was now calling on stakeholders to give their thoughts on the draft plan to help shape the future of Australia’s digital communications over the next five years.

“Spectrum management isn’t discussed a lot in Australia but it plays an enormous role in our everyday lives,” Mr Suckling said.

“Without knowing it, each and every day Australians use spectrum for everything from watching TV to using their mobiles and accessing the internet. Spectrum also supports the most critical infrastructure that drives business and our national economy, so it’s incredibly important we consult as widely as possible on its future use.”

The draft FYSO also looks at potential future use of the upper 6 GHz frequency band.

“Internationally, the upper 6 GHz band is growing in importance for both 5G as well as the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, with strong and divergent views on the best use of the band. Accordingly, we are moving to the preliminary planning stage in order to come to a decision on the future use of this band.

“We are also now implementing our approach to the 1.9GHz band so that various uses of the band can coexist. For example, that will mean rail services and major entertainment events can have access to this band at the same time. Performers at large concerts can use wireless microphones without the risk of interfering with the next generation of railway communications used by the trains bringing fans to the venue.

“The ACMA will also complete its program of allocations of important 3.4-4.0 GHz spectrum, which have been designed to accommodate a range of users and use cases. Applications for area-wide licences in the 3.8 GHz band of this spectrum will open shortly.

“Spectrum licences in this band allow organisations to build their own private communications networks to support their business needs,” Mr Suckling said.

“We have already seen an uptake of private networks by the construction and mining sectors and are starting to see other sectors showing an interest as well, such as agriculture, transport and utilities businesses.

“We anticipate this trend will continue, with increasing demand for private networks using 5G technology.”

The ACMA has published the draft FYSO on its website with consultation submissions closing COB 22 April 2024.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a public discussion paper inviting stakeholders to contribute to the future use of Australia’s spectrum – the radio frequencies that facilitate telecommunications over public airwaves, including for mobile phone and internet services.

Many of the current 20-year spectrum licences issued to Australia’s major telcos are set to expire between 2028 and 2032. This spectrum is mainly used to provide mobile telecommunications services across Australia and is highly valued by incumbents.

This is the first time the ACMA has been responsible for considering the future of these licences that, under law, may be renewed, partially renewed or refused to be renewed.

With the potential release of this spectrum to other users, the expiry of these licences is one of the most critically important issues facing the telecommunications sector over the coming decade.

To inform its future decisions, the ACMA’s paper seeks information from incumbents on their current and future use of this spectrum and from potential new users on alternative uses. In addition, we are seeking views on the use of licence conditions that may improve efficiency and coverage to the benefit of all Australians.

ACMA authority member and spectrum lead Adam Suckling said radio waves are a finite public resource that the ACMA manages with the aim of delivering the most effective social, technological and economic outcomes.

“Given the critical importance of spectrum usage to industry, the economy and the public, we are starting the process now – well in advance of the expiry dates,” Mr Suckling said.

“We are talking about very high value spectrum, ideal for facilitating 5G mobile internet and even 6G as we look ahead over the next decade and beyond.

“We are seeing new technologies and innovations on the horizon, such as network sharing models and satellite applications, that could boost competition nationally as well as improve network coverage in regional areas.

“We recognise that this is not a ‘greenfields’ exercise with the use of some frequency bands for a particular service, such as wireless broadband, not in contention. However, with around three-quarters of long-term spectrum licences expiring, it is timely to consider whether there is potential to enhance competition and provide more choice for consumers.

“These licences will significantly shape the future of Australia’s telecommunications landscape, so it’s important we include as many views in the decision-making process as we can.

“As the ACMA works through this process, we will be guided by the public interest objectives of the Radiocommunications Act and ministerial policy statements. We will look at things such as whether the use of spectrum is efficient, promotes investment, coverage, innovation and enhances competition,” Mr Suckling said.

The ACMA will release its preliminary views on long-term options for the relevant spectrum in late 2024.

Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting students from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) are live on air until Saturday June 22nd with regional pop-up broadcast: 2NRS. With a focus on the Illawarra, the students are going to air with the latest news, local stories and community events from across the region. 

This is AFTRS’ second live broadcast of the year – after Show Radio in April – and the students are again stepping up on all fronts, running the broadcast as well as podcasts, social media and branding with 2NRS – Hits Different. 

Industry professionals from across the country are lending their support and expertise as aircheckers and mentors, including Blair Woodcock, Jase Allen, Barry Keohane, Moyra Major, Olivia Scott, Melissa Femia, Rohan Edwards, Dani Torresan and Ryan Pemberton.  

Blair Woodcock, Head of Regional Content, SCA said,

“The AFTRS Radio program, particularly the 2NRS assignment provides an immersive experience where the students use their learned skills and gain a deeper understanding of life in a real regional radio environment, both on-air, and behind the scenes. I’m thrilled to be a part of the journey, helping shape, nurture and develop the next generation of Radio professionals’ industry who will continue to make this industry great.” 

Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting student Grace Cooper said,

“I’ve been doing breakfast news this week and have really enjoyed it. I have already learned so much and have had the opportunity to work closely with industry professionals who provide valuable feedback on our work. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and I am looking forward to the rest of the broadcast. Even though I’ve had to get up at 5:30am, I genuinely get excited to do breakfast news!” 

Natalie Pozdeev, Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting convenor said,

“Regional radio is such an important part of Australian media, and we’re thrilled to give students hands-on learning through our live broadcasts. 2NRS allows students to build skills in all aspects of audio production, content creation, news headlines and live-to-air announcing, so they’re ready with the skills that industry needs today and into the future.” 

Stream 2NRS live 8am-9pm from June 11th– 22nd via iHeartRadio.  

Follow 2NRS on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Learn more about the Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting at the upcoming Post Graduate Info Nights July 2 (in person) and 3 (online) register here.

The countdown to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and with only 42 days to go, Nine’s talk stations are going for gold in digital audio streaming growth.     

Driven by surging listenership in key shifts as well as Nine Radio’s ratings-leading sport coverage, year-on-year data shows national growth of 8%.

Sydney’s 2GB has shown incredible double-digit growth, with a 15% increase in total digital streaming listening hours (YoY), and uplift across Breakfast, Mornings, Afternoons and Drive, as well as Wide World of Sports and the Continuous Call Team rugby league coverage.

Melbourne’s 3AW has also posted a remarkable 7% increase in total listener hours (YoY), including an unassailable 46% commercial Breakfast share, and uplift across key shifts and Friday AFL.

Sport fans are also flocking to Brisbane’s 4BC, which has posted a 10% uptick (YoY) in Friday night rugby league coverage by the Continuous Call Team, and Perth’s 6PR has seen similar gains in Breakfast and Sunday AFL. 

Nine Radio Head of Content, Greg Byrnes, said: “Our live audio streaming audience is surging, and as the official Olympic and Paralympic broadcaster, you can already hear the excitement building across our stations.”

“Audio delivers unmatched engagement for those iconic sporting moments and listening to us via streaming means all Australians will be able to enjoy every moment of the colour and excitement live from Paris across 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR. With a purpose built Olympic Studio and our team of commentators, reporters and hosts on the ground in Paris, we can’t wait for the games to begin!”

Nine’s Director of Sales, Total Audio, Ashley Earnshaw, said: “The scale of our digital stream listening reflects the improved listener experience through our apps and the role our content plays in the community.”

“Our audio superfans are increasingly seeking out our content on connected devices and smart speakers. Critically, for advertisers we have been able to extend our digital audio data product suite with more relevant and engaging targeting solutions, improving ROI and overall ad effectiveness.”

Source: Triton Webcast Metrics Streaming, May 1-31 2024, TLH – Total Listening Hours, Nine Radio, Unless otherwise specified

What does music mean to your station? Music programing can have a great effect for your station, from bringing your community together to new streams of sponsorship revenue. In this webinar, we’ll look at how to approach music programming for your station, seek legal sources of music and set a solid foundation for future success.

REGISTER

The Community Broadcasting Association is pleased to welcome you to the June 2024 content of our national suicide prevention and mental health awareness project, developed with the support of the Australian Government Department of Health.

Each month, our project team develops a series of 20 short radio segments designed to promote help-seeking behaviour and positive lifestyle choices, using interviews with service providers, as well as profiles of people who have successfully dealt with tough times in their lives.

This month, we learn about the Embrace Project’s Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia, an online resource which supports mental health services to work effectively in a multicultural context.

We learn about PANDA’s new translated resources which are designed to support and ground new and expecting parents from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

We catch up with ReachOut to find out why mental health days can be important for young people.

We encourage people to check out Stronger Together, a suicide prevention campaign targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

And we learn about the free resources Hey Sport, R U OK? provides for coaches, administrators, officials, volunteers and participants to help everyone in their sporting community feel connected and supported.

Download the segments for your station to promote.

For more information on this project, please contact the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia on (02) 9310 2999, or email: iwatson@cbaa.org.au

The National NAIDOC Committee and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation are delighted to announce the ABC will once again be the home of National NAIDOC Week celebrations as the Official Broadcast and Education Partner.

National NAIDOC Week 2024 will be held across the country from July 7-14, with the theme this year of Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

As the official Broadcast partner, the ABC will telecast the First Nations night of nights, the NAIDOC Awards live from Tarndanya (Adelaide) on Kaurna Yerta from 7.30pm (AEST) on Saturday July 6. The awards will be hosted by Total Control star Rob Collins, 10 News First presenter Narelda Jacobs, and comedian Steph Tisdell.  MTV and ARIA award-winning musician Jess Mauboy will headline the night’s entertainment.

The NAIDOC Awards recognise outstanding contributions made by Indigenous Australians to improve the lives of Indigenous people, promote Indigenous issues in the wider community and recognise First Nations excellence. The ceremony will also be streamed on ABC iview and simulcast on NITV.

Led by ABC Indigenous, the ABC will celebrate NAIDOC Week with special coverage across all platforms.

Aunty Lynette (Dr) Riley, Co-Chair, of the National NAIDOC Committee said: “For half a century, NAIDOC Week has been an opportunity to celebrate our achievements and stories in public forums and educate the wider community about the rich and diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We look forward to teaming up with the ABC once again to provide all Australians with access to an array of entertaining and thought-provoking media content and education materials.”

Steven Satour, Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee said: “National NAIDOC Week 2024 promises to be bigger and better than ever. This year’s theme will spark a celebration of the unyielding strength of our communities and create a platform to amplify our voices. That is why we are thrilled that the ABC is on board once again to deliver the NAIDOC Awards Ceremony and an exciting campaign of NAIDOC content into people’s homes across Australia.”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said the ABC is honoured to return as the official partner of national NAIDOC celebrations in 2024.

“NAIDOC Week is a time of excitement, recognition and learning and a tremendous opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate and reflect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements,’’ he said.

“As the Official Broadcast and Education partner, we’re excited to work with the National NAIDOC committee to play a part in bringing important and inspiring Indigenous stories to audiences right around the country.”

In addition to the NAIDOC themed resource, teachers will have access to the range of resources from ABC Kids Listen, Behind the News and the education collection on ABC iview.

ABC’s Head of Indigenous, Kelrick Martin, said: “NAIDOC represents the very best of First Nations achievement, honoured by our own communities. We’re proud to be able to share the joy and glamour of the 2024 National NAIDOC Awards with all Australians live on ABC TV and provide schools and students with important resources to engage more deeply with these incredible stories of success.”

The ABC will release its full NAIDOC Week content schedule in coming weeks.

– Whether you like to listen over time or prefer to binge your crime podcasts, here are some titles to keep you occupied through the cold winter months –

For those who prefer to take their time with a crime podcast, here’s five to keep you thinking over Winter ….. These podcasts will transport you into the heart of intriguing crime narratives, and whether you’re a true crime enthusiast or just love thrilling storytelling, this curated playlist has you covered!

 1. Crime Insiders

If you want to uncover the nitty-gritty of solving Australia’s most gripping criminal cases, this is the perfect podcast for you. Hear untold stories from Australian detectives and forensic specialists and the perspectives and voices of criminal experts rarely heard on mainstream media, as they share exclusive insights into what it’s like to investigate some of Australia’s most compelling cases. It is a brilliant listen. LISTEN HERE

 2. Secrets We Keep: Nest of Traitors

Three years ago, journalist Joey Watson was pulled into the ultimate spy mystery: during the Cold War, the Australian spy agency ASIO was infiltrated by a Soviet mole. This is a journey into the heart of the deception, where the lines between friend and foe blur. With Russian moles, stolen documents, double agents, and missing files, this podcast takes listeners on a deep dive into the world of spies. LISTEN HERE

3. Gripped: Second Son

This six-part immersive gangland crime audio fiction series follows the compelling story of Jamil, the reluctant leader of a Sydney crime family who is under pressure to seek revenge for his brother’s murder. Beware, each episode ends with a cliffhanger! LISTEN HERE

 4. Disgraceland

Not your typical music podcast, this series weaves together true crime, music history, mystery, and misadventure. Imagine Jerry Lee Lewis jamming with the Rolling Stones in a criminal underworld, Taylor Swift navigating the dark side of fame, or Cardi B spitting rhymes after being accused of two counts of felony assault in Queens. Host Jake Brennan will take you on a wild ride through the alleged true crime antics and criminal connections of some of the most iconic musicians in history. LISTEN HERE

5. Murder In Apartment 12

In an all-new original podcast series from Dateline and Keith Morrison, a young beauty queen with a promising future was found murdered in her own apartment, just before her 20th birthday. The investigation quickly points to her boyfriend, Kevin, who discovered her body. His bloody palm print at the crime scene seems to seal his fate, but is it really that simple? LISTEN HERE

For the bingers….. here’s five bite-sized crime podcasts you can start and (and finish) over a Winter weekend! From identity fraud to cold cases, to fugitives, you won’t be able to press stop on these …

1. Death in Ice Valley

This podcast cracks open the file on a decades-long mystery of an unidentified woman whose body was found by hikers in ‘Ice Valley’ near the city of Bergen, Norway. Fans of Nordic Noir shows like The Bridge, will be comforted by the Norwegian accents and ambient sounds of snow underfoot while hosts Marit Higraff and Neil McCarthy introduce the detectives and people involved in the case over 12 short episodes. LISTEN HERE

2. Ghost Story

Ever annoyed your in-laws? How about investigating if one of them was a murderer? Host and journalist Tristan Redman looks into the past of his wife’s family and discovers a strange connection to the ghost that haunted his teenage bedroom. With interviews from family members, Tristan asks questions no-one wants answered in this thrilling six-part podcast. LISTEN HERE

3. Wolves Among Us

Larry Lavin got into one of the most prestigious schools in the United States, but he wasn’t the son of a CEO or politician. To pay his way through dentistry school, Larry starts dealing pot. Soon, he’s running one of the largest cocaine rings on the East Coast of America. How’s that for a gateway drug? You can hear from Larry himself as he tells host Stephen Seidel how he became one of the top fugitives on the FBI’s most wanted list. LISTEN HERE

4. Fairy Meadow

Cheryl Grimmer was kidnapped from a New South Wales beach in 1970, and even today her family have never given up on finding her. Despite a coronial inquest in 2011 that declared Cheryl dead, there is still no answer to what happened. A $1 million reward for information about her disappearance still stands. LISTEN HERE

5. Fake Heiress

You’ve heard of ‘fake it til you make it’, but when do you give up the act? For Anna Delvey, it wasn’t until she landed herself in prison for fraud. This two-episode podcast series is a perfect quick fix of the deceit and scams perpetrated by a young woman in the world of New York’s elite circles. LISTEN HERE

About LiSTNR:

LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your Ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com

Australia’s charities regulator – the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission – has urged the not-for-profit sector to be aware of changes to the way some organisations assess themselves as exempt from paying income tax.

The changes are focussed on over 150,000 organisations that are non-charitable not-for-profits, that self-assess as being exempt from income tax.

If an organisation is a not-for-profit, but has what are known as ‘charitable purposes’, it may meet the eligibility requirements to register as a charity and can no longer self-assess as being exempt from income tax.

These organisations will need to apply for charity registration with the ACNC and be endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to remain eligible for income-tax exemption.

If an organisation is a not-for-profit, has an active Australian Business Number (ABN), but does not have ‘charitable purposes’, it will need to lodge an annual NFP self-review return with the ATO in order to self-assess as eligible for income tax exemption each year.

The first NFP self-review return that these ‘non charitable not-for-profits’ will need to lodge covers the 2023-24 income year.

Both the ACNC and ATO have urged not-for-profits that might be affected by this change to act now to prepare for their first lodgement.

The ACNC has urged not-for-profits to learn more, clarify what they need to do, and see if they need to register as charities by reading guidance on both the ACNC and ATO websites.

ATO guidance is available at: ato.gov.au/NFPtaxexempt and ato.gov.au/NFPselfreviewguide.

ACNC guidance is available at: www.acnc.gov.au/organisations-have-been-self-assessing-income-tax-exempt.

Again, the changes to self-assessment are focussed on non-charitable not-for-profit organisations.

There is no change for organisations already registered as charities with the ACNC.

Organisations that are not registered charities but have deductible gift recipient (DGR) status may need to take action, and should refer to the ACNC and ATO guidance for more information.

If you have more questions about this issue please get in touch with the CBAA team at support@cbaa.org.au or on our Online Community.