Its been a busy week for The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This week they’ve been seeking public comment on a proposal for a community station at Port Augusta and industry comment on draft Community participation guidelines for community broadcasting services. They’ve also approved revised guidelines for the allocation and variation of temporary community broadcasting licences and have accepted an enforceable undertaking offered by Young temporary community broadcasting licence holder, Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc.
Interest in providing a long-term community radio broadcasting service in the Port Augusta SA region has been expressed by Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association (Umeewarra) which is currently operating at Port Augusta under a temporary community broadcasting licence.
“Before making a final decision, the ACMA is interested in receiving comments on the proposal from members of the Port Augusta community,” said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.
Although temporary community broadcasting licences confer no right and do not indicate any the ACMA preference for a group to be granted a long-term community radio broadcasting licence, the ACMA is of the view that if a long-term community radio broadcasting licence were to be made available at Port Augusta, it is likely that it would be taken up.
The ACMA releases community broadcasting participation guidelines for comment.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking industry comment on draft Community participation guidelines for community broadcasting services(the draft guidelines).
These draft guidelines are part of the ACMA’s continuing responsiveness to the needs of the community broadcasting sector and its audience.
The draft guidelines are designed to better explain and help community broadcasters understand and comply with licence condition requirements to:
encourage community participation in the operations of the service, and in the selection and provision of programs; and
continue to represent the community interest they represented when the licence was allocated or last renewed.
The purpose of the community participation and community representation requirements is to better facilitate this outcome – that community broadcasting services are provided not only for, but also by, communities.
Comments on the draft community participation guidelines for community broadcasting services are due by 31 August 2009.
The ACMA issues revised temporary community broadcasting guidelines.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has approved revised guidelines for the allocation and variation of temporary community broadcasting licences.
Temporary community broadcasting licence guidelines 2009 (the revised guidelines) replace the Guide to the Allocation of Temporary Community Broadcasting Licences (Radio), published in December 2007.
“The revised guidelines are devised to enable the ACMA to have a more efficient, transparent and responsive process for allocating and varying temporary community broadcasting licences,” Mr Chapman said.
Changes to the revised guidelines include:
a new section on varying temporary community broadcasting licences; and
the introduction of criteria for the fair apportionment of broadcast time between temporary licence holders sharing the same frequency instead of the formula that was used in the previous guidelines.
The guidelines are designed to assist aspirant community broadcasters apply for a temporary licence and also to help existing temporary licence holders comply with their statutory obligations.