ACMA Consultation : non-assigned amateur regulatory arrangements

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Terry

You are not alone in your concern.  

The AMC <--> ACMA Deed is now about 3 years into a 5 year deal so that would have to continue until, at least, it's expiry. The AMC has been issuing callsigns and assessing qualifications almost from the beginning of that Deed. So really the only change anticipated is a public register factor.

An alternative concept might be for the WIA, as the majority body representing the amateurs in Australia, to re-commence the testing of candidates, and issuing of Certificates and subsequently callsigns, plus maintaining a public register, so nominally an extension of the circumstances prior to the current Deed.

Either way, it is a non-Government entity with ultimate control.  The problem is that the amateur service does not operate 'for profit' so there is nothing to encourage the ACMA to continue its role.

It used to be (way back when I started work in the late 1960s) that Government was 'public service' oriented, where it is now profit/loss oriented and ignores any facade of public service. Devolvement of loss-making functions seem almost standard now and the amateur service would certainly be classified as such. 

I suspect that it will go Class Licence regardless of what our submissions suggest. That is the only way to take the loss factor off the ACMA 'bottom line'.