ACMA proposes local presence licence condition for regional commercial radio - Blake Dawson Waldron Lawyers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released for consultation a proposed local presence licence condition (licence condition) for regional commercial radio licensees. The proposed licence condition is part of the new obligations on regional commercial radio licensees that have been introduced by the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Act 2006 (the Act).
The proposed condition requires a licensee affected by a trigger event to maintain the "existing level of local presence". It defines the existing level of local presence in terms of the staffing levels and production facilities that existed in the licence area in the three-month period before the trigger event. A trigger event is defined in the Act as a transfer of a licence, formation of a new registrable media group (which includes a commercial radio broadcasting licence) or change of controller of a registrable media group (which includes a commercial radio broadcasting licence).
The proposed condition also requires all regional commercial radio licensees to keep records of their existing levels of local presence on an ongoing basis, with reporting obligations for licenses affected by a trigger event.
ACMA is currently asking all regional commercial radio licensees to comment on the proposed licence condition by 14 March 2007.
To view the proposed conditions click here.
