The object of the ACMA’s Five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO) is to outline the fundamental issues that affect spectrum requirements and management over the next five years. It outlines the ACMA’s proposed actions to address these issues, while also highlighting the spectrum issues that could arise for radiocommunications services beyond the issue year of the FYSO.
The FYSO is an annual update that assists the ACMA to improve its performance of its spectrum management functions. Stakeholders can use the FYSO to identify when the ACMA expects a particular work program to commence, and to understand the priority applied to particular activities by the ACMA.
Within this context, this FYSO is provided in three parts.
Part 1 articulates, at a high level, the ACMA’s decision-making framework, and how evidence informs the FYSO and the ACMA in developing its work programs. Also, within the context of the external environment, the FYSO provides an overview of the year ahead by addressing some of the significant issues that may affect spectrum management in Australia. Some of these include Australia’s preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva and an overview of broader communications policy initiatives, including the government’s decision to implement the three main recommendations of the Spectrum Review. A key issue will be how the outcome of the review will affect the ACMA’s spectrum management activities into the future.
This part also addresses the ACMA’s response to the year ahead are by outlining some of the key tools the ACMA uses to address the demand on spectrum, such as:
the spectrum research program, which is a vital element of the ACMA’s analysis of the broader spectrum management environment
the importance of spectrum as an input for driving economic growth and discussion on the economics of spectrum management
highlighting the ACMA’s work on the mobile broadband strategy
how the current legislative basis impacts upon how the ACMA manages access to the radiofrequency spectrum
outlining the planning instruments that allow the ACMA to plan and allocate radiofrequency.
Finally, this part provide a list of the projects and outcomes achieved by the ACMA since the release of the 2014–18 edition.
Part 2 describes the overarching framework within which the ACMA determines its key priority areas and work program for the near term. This part is aimed at providing a level of transparency to stakeholders about the pressures on spectrum, and the priorities assigned to particular spectrum management activities in response to those pressures. Key priority areas arise through four broad themes, which are informed by the ACMA’s research program and the ACMA’s work to further the government’s deregulatory agenda.
The first theme—maximising the overall public benefit arising from use of spectrum— reflects the ACMA’s Principles for spectrum management. The second theme—reducing the cost to business arising from regulation—reflects the government’s deregulatory agenda. The third theme—implementing current reform priorities—recognises that the ACMA is responsible for implementing major reform priorities: for example, the review of spectrum management in Australia and implementing the outcomes of the 400 MHz band review. The final theme—ensuring the national interest—acknowledges that sometimes ongoing work programs become a key priority area because this work culminates in decisions that have far-reaching consequences for future spectrum management.
Part 3 sets out the ACMA’s five-year spectrum management work plan. This section includes details on proposed commencement or completion timeframes. The intention is to provide greater clarity on what action the ACMA is taking in response to identified pressures and the timing of those actions so that stakeholders have an early opportunity to provide feedback to the ACMA on that work plan
