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Australian Wireless Audio Group (AWAG) |
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On January 11th 2010 the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy published the long awaited Digital Dividend Green Paper. This paper indicates how much spectrum within the broadcast services band the Australian government hopes to auction off and what part of the spectrum will be subject to this reallocation.
While we acknowledge the desire of Government to maximise the asset and value that is inherent within the wireless spectrum AWAG has acted to ensure that the interests of both the sellers and users of wireless audio products are accommodated in any future re-stack of the wireless spectrum.
- That wireless spectrum remains available to users and that the available spectrum is sufficient to accommodate current and future use
- That the uncertainty surrounding the future use of these products be resolved as soon as possible.
- That there is sufficient time between the determination of future spectrum access within the 520Mhz and the proposed 694Mhz band for organizations to make the necessary changes
- That our right to use these products under the Low Interference Portable Devices (LIPD) licence arrangements is acknowledged and that similar arrangements continue into the future.
That the Government recognise that there are costs associated with the change of spectrum, including the decommissioning existing equipment and its replacement with new equipment appropriate for use within the new and as yet to be determined, frequencies.
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AWAG Economic Study March 2008 |
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The convention and meetings industry The fitness industry Touring and music performance Musical theatre The fast food industry amongst others. As you are no doubt aware the activities of AWAG have slowed down somewhat over the last few months as the legislative future of the wireless spectrum was unclear due to the recent federal election. You will also find attached a copy of the submission the AMA on behalf of AWAG made to a variation of the LIPD put forward by the ACMA late in November. This is the legislation that contains the class licence for wireless audio transmitters. The changes the ACMA are proposing are, in the first instance a semantic change to the legislation and in the second instance do not effect the operation of wireless audio transmitters in that part of the frequency. We did feel that it was important that as a group we took the time to comment positively and did so. Susan Twartz Phone: UPDATED AIDE MEMOIRE: WIRELESS AUDIO SPECTRUM USE [September 2007] 1. Wireless audio products currently operate in the same piece of the radio spectrum as analogue TV broadcasting (namely the 520-820MHz frequency band). 2. Wireless audio products currently share this piece of spectrum using a “class license,” operating in the gaps or “white space” between the comparatively widely spaced TV stations. This space has been flagged for auction once analogue TV broadcasting ceases. 3. In recent years industry has been supplying around 32,000 wireless audio products per annum to Australian users. Therefore, there are likely to be more than 100,000 units being used on a regular basis within 4. Users of various wireless audio products include: a. Educational institutions including Schools (e.g. radio mike at school assembly, school music), Universities and TAFEs; b. Churches; c. TV, radio and other broadcasters; d. Performing arts organisations – both professional and amateur; e. Concert promoters, festival organiser and other entertainment providers; f. Music theatre groups – both professional and amateur; g. Independent musicians; h. The convention and meetings industry; i. The fitness/aerobics industry; j. Auctioneers; k. Major events (e.g. Grand Prix); l. Political parties (e.g. state and federal conferences); & m. In homes as digital editing and voiceovers etc become easier with new lower cost home technologies. 5. Wireless microphones and other wireless audio products have several unique characteristics which make them critical for multiple uses such as live-to-air TV broadcasts and musical productions, through to church and school halls. Namely, these characteristics are: a. Real time (100% duty cycle with no lag or delay); & b. High quality audio (broadcast quality); & c. Radiated power (up to 50mW with a typical range of 100 metres). At the present time and probably for period of maybe five (5) years there will be no close substitute for such analogue products. Nor will any other solution be more efficient in terms of spectrum utilization. 6. While the proposed changes are not aimed at wireless audio users, the use of these products in the future will likely be curtailed as a result of the changes to TV broadcasting. In short, if the 520-820MHz frequency band is sold to new users, then existing wireless audio devices will almost certainly either interfere with the new use or be interfered with by the new use. In short unless concrete steps are taken the spectrum sold by ACMA will need to be categorized as “dirty spectrum”. 7. Depending on the future uses of the digital dividend spectrum, it may be necessary to remove 100,000+ existing wireless units from the market – an enormous task and significant financial burden on community groups. schools, churches etc. 8. This problem also exists in the 9. Possible solutions which allow for continued use of wireless audio products in a manner consistent with the Government and the public taking advantage of the “digital dividend” from the move from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting might include: a. Allocation of specific spectrum from the digital dividend (may require all users to buy new equipment); or b. Wait for a technical solution (such as move to digital, Bluetooth, WiFi) – but nothing in immediate horizon (would definitely require all users to buy new equipment). 10. The Australian Music Association has made a submission to ACMA on 26th February 2007 as part of their “Strategies for Wireless Access Services: Spectrum Access Options” (Spectrum Planning Discussion Paper SPP 10/06) consultation, to give them a heads-up on this issue. 11. The Australian Music Association is leading the Australian Wireless Audio Group (AWAG) – a coalition of wireless audio manufacturers, retailers and end users to work cooperatively with key regulatory bodies and Government in order to find an industry-wide solution consistent with international best practice. Australian Wireless Audio Group Bulletin May 2007 You may have seen in recent press information about the wireless spectrum and the potential sell-off, or redistribution, of the bandwidth in which users of this technology operate. There have been recent updates in this all-important issue to which everyone should be aware. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the regulatory body responsible for allocating radio spectrum for use in The wireless audio distributors in
Approvals and R&D Project Coordinator
Jands Pty Ltd
Email: stwartz@jands.com.au
Web: www.jands.com.au