ACMA roadmap for broadcast radio

The ACMA has laid out its priorities for the future delivery of broadcast consumer radio in a report which it says underlines the vital importance of radio to Australian audiences.

‘The future delivery of radio’ details how the ACMA will prioritise the provision of spectrum to best assist broadcasters to serve the Australian community.

“Radio plays a critical role in providing news and informing communities in times of emergencies, as we saw during the bushfires and are seeing now with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ACMA Chai, Nerida O’Loughlin.

“We know that the radio industry needs to evolve in response to new technology and changing audience preferences, and the spectrum that the ACMA manages is a key part of that evolution.

“We have worked with all parts of the radio sector to understand their views on the future delivery of radio. And in response we are prioritising the frequency planning options that will assist radio broadcasters to make the best choices about their future service delivery,” she added.

Those priorities include:

• the continued transitioning of commercial, community and national services in regional areas from AM to FM where spectrum is readily available;
• arrangements to allow further rollout of digital radio where this is feasible;
• coverage improvements for national, commercial and community broadcasting where spectrum is available; and
• support for trials of new types of broadcasting technology.
   

“These priorities will guide our work and we intend to consult further with the radio industry on a work program each year through our Five-Year Spectrum Outlook,” O’Loughlin said.

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