04-02-2021, 07:16 AM
Extract :
As of 27 January 2021, there were 15,300 (14,762 non-assigned and 538 assigned) amateur licensees in Australia; the second largest apparatus licence type after land mobile licences.
Now look at the 14,762 non-assigned licences as generating about $50 each as income to the ACMA, so a little over $700K per annum for existing licences. Not really very much.
New amateur licences being issued produce a little more income as the New Application fee is around $70 (the last time I looked & not recently) while Variation in Licences cost less at $40-$45 (again, the last time I looked & not recently).
Then take a look at what it costs the ACMA for the amateur service, and if you could isolate a figure, it would be far higher than the income figure. No wonder there is a move to adopt Class Licensing.
There were "talks" some years ago (>20) about moving the amateur service in Australia to a Class Licence basis. Its greatest appeal was that a zero fee was contemplated but all interference protection was to be lost, along with a number of other factors. Thw WIA was involved in these discussions at the time but the concept was eventually dropped as agreement was not reached.
But the world has moved on from then so maybe a Class Licence might be applicable now.
The bit in the Consultation Paper refers to it this way :
"All apparatus licences are subject to charges for licence issue and renewal, and an annual tax amount.
Class licences are general authorisations to operate a radiocommunications device of a specified kind, or for a specified purpose, or of a specified kind for a specified purpose on shared frequencies specified in the class licence, subject to the operation being consistent with any conditions in that class licence. As class licences are broad legislative authorisations, there is no licence issue or renewal, and therefore no associated licensing costs.
Class licensing is broadly similar to non-assigned apparatus licensing, as both enable people to operate devices on a shared set of frequencies. However non-assigned apparatus licensing relies on individual licences being issued before operation, which enables greater regulatory oversight of licensees where necessary, but at a greater cost to both the ACMA and licensees.
Given the similar utility that both non-assigned apparatus licensing and class licensing can provide for users, it is worth considering whether the additional regulatory oversight (and associated costs) for non-assigned licensees is warranted to facilitate the amateur service.
"
The line "As class licences are broad legislative authorisations, there is no licence issue or renewal, and therefore no associated licensing costs." becomes interesting to interpret.
My current view/interpretation is that the callsign issuing authority (ie A.M.C. at present) confirms the qualification of a candidate through an examination process (at a fee), issues a callsign (for a fee), then the person can start operating on amateur frequencies - no actual licence is issued.
I'm not too sure if such a "licence" would be recognised internationally, for those planning on visiting other countries and operating there, where the existing apparatus licences are recognised, at least at Advanced level. (Sure the user gets a Certificate of Proficiency but these are not the basis for overseas recognition, the Australian Licence documents are.)
Would there still be entries on the ACMA's Public Register ? No, because licences are not issued.
How would you check on someone you heard on air ? A public AMC register of all callsigns and quallification levels ??
The no-protection state is referred to in the very last line of the extract, although it does not expand on it. What is known is that CB licensees are a no interference-protection basis, either suffering from - or - generated by. That would then apply to amateurs too.
The entire amateur-related documents require in-depth study, and the closing date for submissions is the 2nd April 2021.
What do you see happening to the amateur service in Australia ?? This is your chance to assist in determining it's future.
As of 27 January 2021, there were 15,300 (14,762 non-assigned and 538 assigned) amateur licensees in Australia; the second largest apparatus licence type after land mobile licences.
Now look at the 14,762 non-assigned licences as generating about $50 each as income to the ACMA, so a little over $700K per annum for existing licences. Not really very much.
New amateur licences being issued produce a little more income as the New Application fee is around $70 (the last time I looked & not recently) while Variation in Licences cost less at $40-$45 (again, the last time I looked & not recently).
Then take a look at what it costs the ACMA for the amateur service, and if you could isolate a figure, it would be far higher than the income figure. No wonder there is a move to adopt Class Licensing.
There were "talks" some years ago (>20) about moving the amateur service in Australia to a Class Licence basis. Its greatest appeal was that a zero fee was contemplated but all interference protection was to be lost, along with a number of other factors. Thw WIA was involved in these discussions at the time but the concept was eventually dropped as agreement was not reached.
But the world has moved on from then so maybe a Class Licence might be applicable now.
The bit in the Consultation Paper refers to it this way :
"All apparatus licences are subject to charges for licence issue and renewal, and an annual tax amount.
Class licences are general authorisations to operate a radiocommunications device of a specified kind, or for a specified purpose, or of a specified kind for a specified purpose on shared frequencies specified in the class licence, subject to the operation being consistent with any conditions in that class licence. As class licences are broad legislative authorisations, there is no licence issue or renewal, and therefore no associated licensing costs.
Class licensing is broadly similar to non-assigned apparatus licensing, as both enable people to operate devices on a shared set of frequencies. However non-assigned apparatus licensing relies on individual licences being issued before operation, which enables greater regulatory oversight of licensees where necessary, but at a greater cost to both the ACMA and licensees.
Given the similar utility that both non-assigned apparatus licensing and class licensing can provide for users, it is worth considering whether the additional regulatory oversight (and associated costs) for non-assigned licensees is warranted to facilitate the amateur service.
"
The line "As class licences are broad legislative authorisations, there is no licence issue or renewal, and therefore no associated licensing costs." becomes interesting to interpret.
My current view/interpretation is that the callsign issuing authority (ie A.M.C. at present) confirms the qualification of a candidate through an examination process (at a fee), issues a callsign (for a fee), then the person can start operating on amateur frequencies - no actual licence is issued.
I'm not too sure if such a "licence" would be recognised internationally, for those planning on visiting other countries and operating there, where the existing apparatus licences are recognised, at least at Advanced level. (Sure the user gets a Certificate of Proficiency but these are not the basis for overseas recognition, the Australian Licence documents are.)
Would there still be entries on the ACMA's Public Register ? No, because licences are not issued.
How would you check on someone you heard on air ? A public AMC register of all callsigns and quallification levels ??
The no-protection state is referred to in the very last line of the extract, although it does not expand on it. What is known is that CB licensees are a no interference-protection basis, either suffering from - or - generated by. That would then apply to amateurs too.
The entire amateur-related documents require in-depth study, and the closing date for submissions is the 2nd April 2021.
What do you see happening to the amateur service in Australia ?? This is your chance to assist in determining it's future.
Doug VK4ADC @ QG62LG51
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.