Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference – 850/900 MHz Band) Determination 2021 (Cth)

Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference — 850/900 MHz Band) Determination 2021

The Australian Communications and Media Authority makes the following determination under subsection 145(4) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

Dated: 19 August 2021

Chris Jose [signed] Member

Linda Caruso [signed] Member/General Manager

Australian Communications and Media Authority

1 Name This is the Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference – 850/900 MHz Band) Determination 2021.

2 Commencement This instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Note: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed, free of charge, at www.legislation.gov.au.

3 Revocation The Radiocommunications (Unacceptable Levels of Interference — 800 MHz Band) Determination 2012 (F2012L01777) is revoked.

4 Authority This instrument is made under subsection 145(4) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

5 Definitions (1) In this instrument: 850/900 MHz band means the following frequency bands: (a) 850 MHz Lower Sub-band; (b) 850 MHz Upper Sub-band; (c) 900 MHz Lower Sub-band; and (d) 900 MHz Upper Sub-band. 850 MHz Lower Sub-band means the frequency band 814 MHz to 845 MHz. 850 MHz Upper Sub-band means the frequency band 859 MHz to 890 MHz. 900 MHz Lower Sub-band means the frequency band 890 MHz to 915 MHz. 900 MHz Upper Sub-band means the frequency band 935 MHz to 960 MHz. Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992. active antenna system or AAS means a base station antenna system where the amplitude and/or phase between antenna elements is continually adjusted, resulting in an antenna pattern that varies in response to short term changes in the radio environment. ASMG means the Australian Spectrum Map Grid 2012, published by the ACMA on its website at www.acma.gov.au. Note: The ASMG can be accessed, free of charge, on the ACMA's website: www.acma.gov.au. beam-forming means use of an AAS to electrically steer antenna beams. centre frequency, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter, means the frequency midway between the lower and upper frequency limits of the transmitter's occupied bandwidth. DEM-3S means the dataset: (a) with the citation "Gallant, J., Wilson, N., Tickle, P.K., Dowling, T., Read A. 2009. 3 Second SRTM Derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Version 1.0. Record 1.0. Geoscience Australia, Canberra"; and (b) given the persistent identifier 69888; containing modelled terrain height information for Australia, published by Geoscience Australia. Note: Copies of DEM-3S can be obtained, free of charge, from the Geoscience Australia website: www.ga.gov.au. DEM-3S cell means an individual height element of the DEM-3S. device boundary, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter or a group of radiocommunications transmitters operated under a spectrum licence, means the device boundary established in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 2. device boundary criterion, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter or a group of radiocommunications transmitters operated under a spectrum licence, means the value of the mathematical expression calculated in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 2. effective antenna height means the effective height of an antenna calculated in accordance with Schedule 3. EIRP, in relation to a radiocommunications device, means the Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power of the device. emission designator means the designation of a radiocommunications transmitter's emission, determined in accordance with section 7. fixed receiver means a radiocommunications receiver located at a fixed point on land or sea and not designed or intended for use while in motion. fixed transmitter means a radiocommunications transmitter located at a fixed point on land or sea and not designed or intended for use while in motion. GDA94 means the geodetic datum designated as the "Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA)" gazetted in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 35 on 6 September 1995, as existing on that date. Note: More information on GDA94 can be obtained, free of charge, from the Geoscience Australia website: www.ga.gov.au. geographic area, for a spectrum licence, means the area within which the operation of a radiocommunications device is authorised under the licence. group of radiocommunications receivers has the meaning given by section 9. group of radiocommunications transmitters has the meaning given by section 8. HCIS identifier means an identifier used to describe a geographical area in the HCIS. hierarchical cell identification scheme or HCIS means the cell grouping hierarchy scheme used to describe areas in the ASMG. horizontally radiated power, for a radiocommunications device, means the sum of: (a) the maximum true mean power, in dBm per specified rectangular bandwidth, at the antenna connector, that is located within the frequency band of the spectrum licence authorising the operation of the radiocommunications device; and (b) the antenna gain relative to an isotropic antenna in a specified direction in the horizontal plane containing the phase centre of the antenna used with the radiocommunications device, in dBi. location, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter or group of radiocommunications transmitters, means the location of the transmitter or group of transmitters, as the case may be, calculated in accordance with Schedule 1. maximum true mean power means the true mean power measured in a specified rectangular bandwidth that is located within a specified frequency band, such that the true mean power is the maximum of true mean powers produced. Note: The power within the specified rectangular bandwidth is normally established by taking measurements using either an adjacent channel power meter or a spectrum analyser. Estimation of the accuracy of the measuring equipment, measurement protocol and any adjustments made to measurements to take account of practical filter shape factors should be in accordance with good engineering practices. mean power means the average power measured during an interval of time that is at least 10 times the period of the lowest modulation frequency. occupied bandwidth, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter, means the width of a frequency band having upper and lower limits that are necessary to contain 99% of the true mean power of the transmitter's emission at any time. Radio Regulations means the document: (a) titled 'Radio Regulations'; and (b) published by the International Telecommunication Union. Note 1: The Radio Regulations published by the International Telecommunication Union are not regulations made by the Governor‑General under the Act. Note 2: Copies of the Radio Regulations can be obtained, free of charge, from the International Telecommunication Union's website: www.itu.int. total radiated power, in relation to a radiocommunications transmitter, means the integral of the power transmitted in different directions over the entire radiation sphere. It is measured considering the combination of all radiating elements on an antenna panel or individual device. true mean power means: (a) if an unmodulated carrier is present – the mean power measured while the unmodulated carrier is present; and (b) if an unmodulated carrier is not present – the mean power measured while transmitted information is present. Note: A number of other expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following: * ACMA; * core condition; * frequency band; * interference; * radiocommunications device; * radiocommunications receiver; * radiocommunications transmitter; * radio emission; * Register; * spectrum licence. (2) In this instrument, unless otherwise specified, a reference to a part of the spectrum, a frequency band or a frequency range includes all frequencies that are greater than but not including the lower frequency, up to and including the higher frequency. Note: This subsection means the lower number in the reference to a part of the spectrum, a frequency band or a frequency range is not included in the part of the spectrum, the frequency band or the frequency range.