0:00 There are some changes coming to CB
0:03 radio here in Australia. The ACMA have
0:05 floated some changes in a new
0:07 consultation paper just released today
0:10 and we're going to go through those in
0:12 this video. So, as I mentioned, this
0:13 consultation paper literally came out
0:16 today uh the 2nd of June 2025 and it
0:19 goes through some of the things that
0:22 they are doing to change the CB radio
0:24 space. Now, this document there are
0:27 links in the description below to it. uh
0:29 goes through some information. There's
0:31 about 12 pages worth of some of the
0:33 changes that they propose. However, if
0:35 we start off here with the background,
0:37 the background basically is that the
0:38 radio communications citizen band radio
0:41 stations class license of 2015 is due to
0:45 sunset on the 1st of October 2025. So,
0:49 these sunset uh every 10 years after
0:52 they first registered. So, they're
0:54 basically going back through and seeing
0:56 what they need to change, what's
0:58 working, what's not working, and going
1:00 through what they should uh, you know,
1:02 review going back into the next uh
1:04 version, which is going to be the 2025
1:07 uh CB class license. So, there's um some
1:12 bits that they want to repeal from the
1:14 CB class license and also remake it. Uh,
1:17 but there's also some additional matters
1:19 which we'll go into a little bit later
1:21 on. So first of all uh a little bit of
1:23 background about what the CB class
1:25 license does. It basically means that
1:26 the anyone can operate a CB radio in
1:29 Australia either on the HF27 meg or on
1:32 the UHF 470 megband. So anyone can buy a
1:37 CB radio and operate it within the
1:39 technical parameters uh that are
1:42 basically what are assigned to CB radio.
1:45 So again, if you're more interested
1:46 about what CB actually is, then there's
1:48 a link below too to um explain what CB
1:51 radio is about. The changes to the CB
1:54 class license. So these are a couple of
1:57 rather big ones that have uh that
1:59 they're proposing. The first one is
2:01 frequency modulation for use in the HF
2:04 band. So on the 27meg band. So uh in the
2:08 past, we've only been able to use single
2:10 sideband or AM amplitude modulation in
2:13 the HF band. Now recently in the Europe
2:16 and the US they actually removed those
2:18 restrictions and you can use FM on those
2:22 uh on 27 MHz. So I think this is sort of
2:25 aligning with what's been going on uh
2:27 elsewhere in the world to be able to
2:29 allow FM um to be able to use on 27
2:32 megs. FM is a lot clearer. Um it sounds
2:35 a lot better when there's a strong
2:37 signal. Um there's plenty of channels to
2:39 be able to uh support it. We also use FM
2:43 on 29 megs on in the amateur service as
2:46 well. So you know uh it's all uh it's
2:48 all you know sort of aligning with
2:50 what's happening elsewhere in the world.
2:52 Basically uh they're asking or they're
2:55 proposing sorry that we consider it
2:57 appropriate to provide domestic CB radio
2:59 operators with this additional
3:00 flexibility of being able to operate on
3:03 the FM band. And that could open up some
3:05 great things for those who are
3:06 interested in working DX. So working
3:09 across to the states. they probably have
3:11 been hearing FM stations or to Europe FM
3:14 stations and they can't actually
3:15 communicate back because it hasn't been
3:17 authorized here in Australia. So I think
3:20 that this is a good change to allow that
3:22 and um opens up some more um
3:24 experimentation and some more CBS to be
3:26 able to uh be used here on uh FM. The
3:29 next change is initiating contact on HF
3:33 channel 11 and 16 and UHF channel 11.
3:36 Now I when I read this I actually didn't
3:38 realize that this was a thing. So
3:42 basically they proposed to remove the
3:43 requirement that a person operating a CB
3:45 radio must initiate contact on three
3:48 specific channels. This is because we
3:49 recognize that the use of CB radios has
3:51 changed since we made the CB class
3:53 license in 2015. So uh basically the uh
3:58 original um requirement was that you
4:01 would have to call on a call channel.
4:03 So, channel 11, channel 16 or UHF
4:05 channel 11 and then migrate off that
4:07 channel onto another channel. Obviously,
4:09 that doesn't really happen. Um, no one
4:11 really does that. They don't really call
4:13 on a call channel and then move off.
4:15 It's sort of just pick a channel and
4:17 just use it. I think that that's a
4:19 sensible thing to actually um remove. So
4:22 um basically the example they use here
4:23 again we understand that some CB
4:25 radioistas now arrange regular group
4:27 discussions using specific channels
4:28 which is essentially if you're going out
4:31 say into the outback uh you're a
4:33 traveling partners uh in another vehicle
4:36 you just pick a channel and you talk on
4:38 that channel you don't actually make a
4:39 call on one of these call channels and
4:41 then move because that wouldn't really
4:43 make a lot of sense. So basically
4:44 they've just removed that require
4:46 requirement which is uh which makes a
4:48 lot of sense. consent of an inspector
4:50 about altering a CB radio. We propose to
4:52 remove the provision that empowered an
4:54 inspector to give written consent to the
4:56 alteration of a CB radio for the
4:58 purposes of testing. We do not consider
5:01 that there are any circumstances in
5:02 which a person would need to alter their
5:04 CB radio for the purpose of testing it.
5:07 So, uh I guess that there was I didn't
5:10 again this is another one I didn't even
5:12 realize that there was a provision to be
5:13 able to ask an inspector to be able to
5:15 alter your CB for testing. Um, so you
5:19 know, um, we won't we won't touch on
5:22 what happens in CB radio and high power
5:24 amplifiers and all that sort of stuff,
5:25 but basically they're removing that
5:27 requirement because they don't see that
5:28 you're ever going to be able to need to
5:31 test your radio after you've altered it.
5:33 I don't know. This one is a very
5:36 interesting one and could be a little
5:37 bit contentious, but it kind of makes
5:38 sense when you read through it. So, we
5:40 might read through this in its entirety.
5:42 So, the prohibitation on certain onair
5:45 conduct. So they proposed to remove the
5:47 condition of operation on the CB radio
5:49 either in a way that would be likely to
5:51 cause a person to be seriously alarmed
5:53 or affronted or for the purposes of
5:55 harassing a person. Now that on by
5:57 itself sounds like that it could be a
5:59 problem. They're like, "Oh, they're just
6:00 wiping their hands clean of it." But it
6:02 will make more sense as we read further
6:04 down. So this was included in the class
6:06 license over 30 years ago. So they were
6:08 wondering whether they should retain
6:10 this condition. Now the radio
6:12 communications act of 1992 is about the
6:15 management of spectrum. So they have
6:18 examined whether this condition um about
6:21 behavior supports that objective and
6:23 they've formed the view that it does not
6:25 and that other Commonwealth, state and
6:27 territory laws better prevent and
6:29 prohibit this behavior. Uh we received a
6:32 we receive a limited number of
6:34 complaints and inquiries each year about
6:36 conduct alleged to have contravened this
6:38 condition. For example, between July
6:39 2023 and October 24, we received four
6:42 inquiries and 14 complaints. The
6:44 inquiries were about inappropriate
6:45 language and name calling, whilst most
6:48 complaints are about alleged harassment
6:49 and verbal abuse directed to the
6:50 complainant. In several cases, we
6:52 received competing complaints from both
6:53 parties to a single exchange. So, it
6:56 sounds more like that they're not
6:58 interesting in being a policeman on the
7:02 radio bands. If there is harassment or
7:04 there is bad language or there is other
7:07 um stuff that's happening, they say that
7:09 where we consider that the alleged
7:10 conduct is serious, we will refer the
7:12 complainant to the relevant police
7:13 force. We consider that the relevant
7:15 police force is the appropriate body to
7:16 deal with such allegations. So, um
7:20 basically that's what they're looking um
7:22 to to change. So uh there's some other
7:25 information there as well um speaking
7:27 about these conditions that you can see
7:28 there on the screen um that you can take
7:30 your time to to read through. So um they
7:33 propose not including that condition in
7:35 the CB class license of
7:38 2025. Uh directions given by inspectors
7:40 and other persons. Section 9 of the CB
7:43 class license empowers an inspector or
7:45 certain other persons to give a
7:46 direction to a CB radio operator in circ
7:49 certain circumstances. While we have
7:51 retained these conditions, we propose
7:53 additional including information about
7:55 the matters that an inspector or person
7:58 should consider before giving such a
7:59 direction. We also propose to provide
8:01 for merits review for such a
8:03 decision. Uh this one, a CB radio
8:08 connected to a telecommunications
8:10 network. So, the current CB license
8:14 includes a condition that requires a CB
8:16 radio connected to a telecommunications
8:18 network to comply with one of two
8:20 legislative legislative instruments. The
8:23 telecommunications labeling notice for
8:25 customer equipment and customer cabling
8:27 instrument 2015 or the radio
8:29 communications compliance labeling
8:31 devices notice 2014. Now, the purpose of
8:34 the condition was to protect a
8:36 telecommunications network where a CB
8:38 radio was connected. Now quite rightly
8:41 they've said here that the they consider
8:43 this to be unnecessary. This is because
8:46 with modern telecommunication networks
8:48 CB radio will connect with the network
8:50 using an interface such as a mobile
8:51 phone or a personal computer reducing
8:54 the potential for damage to the network.
8:56 Moreover, the uh that 2014 compliance
8:59 labeling notice is no longer in force.
9:02 Um, so if we go a little bit further
9:04 down, they recognize that VOIPE, uh,
9:06 voice over internet protocol
9:08 applications have become popular tools
9:09 used by some members of the CB radio
9:12 community. The applications enable
9:14 devices such as smartphones to operate
9:16 on CB radio channels. On downloading a
9:18 VOIPE application on their smartphone
9:20 and connecting to the smartphone to a CB
9:22 radio, a CB radio operator can use their
9:25 smartphone as a walkie-talkie. As we do
9:28 not consider that the connection of a
9:29 VOIPE application to a CB radio presents
9:32 any risk to the telecommunications
9:33 network, we propose to include a
9:36 specific condition in the CB class
9:38 license 2025 to authorize this type of
9:41 operation. So this is very interesting
9:44 because in the past um they've probably
9:47 become a little bit hesitant people have
9:49 probably become a little bit hesitant to
9:52 uh you know connect CB radio to say the
9:55 internet and to be able to uh either
9:57 operate or to be able to use a VOIPE
10:00 application such as the example that
10:01 they've used. Now I actually tried to
10:03 find some information about this and I
10:06 might uh not have found it. uh you might
10:08 be able to let me know in the comments
10:10 below. But one of a couple of
10:11 applications that I thought about was
10:13 repeater linking. Now I couldn't find
10:15 anything that was in specifically toward
10:17 CB repeater linking. So does this mean
10:20 now that you can use applications such
10:22 as Allstar in a private network running
10:25 to connect CB radio repeaters together
10:28 or even CB stations together? Maybe uh
10:32 simplex hotspots like we've seen in
10:34 amateur radio. I'm not quite sure. it
10:37 kind of reads that way. So maybe a
10:39 little bit of clarification about that.
10:41 Um, obviously they're saying that you
10:43 can connect a VOIPE application to your
10:46 CB radio and use your phone. So that's
10:48 essentially the same as what an All-Star
10:50 Link network does is you can actually
10:52 connect your phone directly to that um
10:54 Allstar Link node and talk via an app.
10:57 So very interesting that they have
10:59 allowed that um or they've called it out
11:01 here anyway. Um, so there's a couple of
11:03 um things there that might open up some
11:07 uh some good things for um for CB radio
11:09 operators. So very interesting indeed.
11:12 So there's some other formatting and
11:14 draft changes here that they've made.
11:16 Basically just changing minor um things
11:19 in relation to uh some references of
11:22 what they call things um removing some
11:25 definitions and all this sort of thing
11:26 that are a little bit obsolete. Uh
11:29 further down however these are other
11:31 matters that they are not reflected in
11:33 the class license for 2025 but they're
11:35 asking about them to raise um
11:38 stakeholder views um the public to ask
11:41 what your thoughts are on this. So the
11:43 first one is emergency communications on
11:46 HF channel 9 and UHF's channel 5 and 35.
11:50 So they wish to undertake how the CB
11:53 radio community industry emergency
11:55 services agencies and interested
11:56 stakeholders view the prohibitation
11:59 prohibit prohibit that word on operating
12:02 on HF channel 9 and UHF channels 5 and
12:05 35 except in an emergency. So these are
12:08 the things that they want to know
12:11 uh from the pers from the perspectives
12:14 of the bodies that monitor them, the
12:15 people who may use or have used them or
12:18 emergency services agencies. Do
12:21 stakeholders consider that all three
12:22 channels should remain as me emergency
12:24 channels or should we retain the HF only
12:28 where access to mobile phone services
12:30 and triple0 may be more limited. We
12:32 would also like to receive any
12:33 historical evidence from the monitoring
12:35 bodies about the number and types of
12:37 emergency calls made on the three
12:40 channels. This includes information
12:42 about the actions that were taken in
12:43 response to the calls. They're seeking
12:46 this information because there's been a
12:48 significant shift in consumer behavior
12:50 and considerable technological
12:52 development since those channels were
12:54 initially reserved for emergency use.
12:57 The proliferation of mobile phones means
12:59 that calling triple0 to ask for
13:01 assistance from emergency services
13:03 organizations with qualified dispatches
13:06 is now commonplace. Given these changes,
13:09 we consider it appropriate to obtain the
13:11 public's views on these channels. One of
13:15 the things that does stick out to me is
13:17 that this particular line talking about
13:19 the prolifer proliferation of mobile
13:22 phones meaning that calling triple0 to
13:24 ask for assistance from emergency
13:25 services is now
13:27 commonplace. One of the things that I
13:29 think we become a little bit too reliant
13:31 on is the mobile phone network. There
13:33 are areas especially even here where I
13:35 live in Tasmania where there is lots of
13:38 areas where there is just no mobile
13:40 phone coverage. And I know of specific
13:42 instances where repeaters, CB repeaters
13:44 have been put in to cover areas uh that
13:47 aren't covered by mobile phone coverage.
13:49 And the people who are in that area
13:51 specifically use the CB repeater or rely
13:54 on the CB service to uh make sure that
13:58 they if there is an emergency or they
14:00 need to contact someone that they can
14:01 do. So that's interesting that due to
14:04 the way um you know consumer behavior
14:07 has changed. Yes, they just pick up the
14:09 phone and call triple0, but there may be
14:10 times where they can't do that. So, one
14:12 of the things that is interesting is
14:14 that they're saying, should we just
14:16 remove these channels from the uh you
14:20 know, should we limit it to those three
14:22 channels? Should they remain emergency
14:24 channels or should we retain the HFON
14:26 channel? So I guess one thing is that's
14:29 interesting that if you do remove say
14:31 the UHF channel which a lot of people
14:32 have UHFCB radios all of a sudden if
14:35 someone calls for an emergency what
14:37 channel do they call on they could be on
14:38 any one of number of 80 channels you
14:41 just wouldn't know which channel they're
14:42 supposed to be on if there is someone
14:45 listening on channel 5 and you know that
14:47 channel 5 and channel 35 are the
14:49 emergency channels then it's more likely
14:51 that someone's going to be able to call.
14:53 So, I just worried that there might be
14:56 some cases where someone goes to call in
14:58 an emergency, they may not necessarily
15:00 know that the changes have been made or
15:02 that no one's listening and they um
15:05 can't call triple0ero on their phone.
15:07 So, that's just my view. Um others
15:09 people might have a different view. Uh
15:12 the second thing that they also want to
15:13 know about is channel arrangements for
15:15 data transmissions which is uh they're
15:17 considering converting the UHF's channel
15:20 22 and 23 um to narrow band channels and
15:23 they're also considering authorizing
15:25 data transmission for these purposes on
15:27 three reserve channels 61 62 and 63.
15:31 This would provide more spectrum for
15:32 these specific purposes. Uh to inform
15:35 our future approach in this area, we'd
15:36 like to obtain further information about
15:38 the current use of CB radios for these
15:40 purposes.
15:41 Um so as far as channels 22 and 23 they
15:45 want to know uh about specific examples
15:48 of how they are using channel 22 and 23
15:51 and um some other information there and
15:54 also channels 61 62 and 63. So the ACMA
15:58 are inviting the public and all
16:00 stakeholders who are interested in the
16:03 CB radio service to make a submission.
16:06 The details are there on the screen, but
16:08 I'll also put a link in the description
16:10 below to the ACMA's website. They prefer
16:12 an online submission to uh these
16:15 changes. Let me know what you think in
16:17 the comments below to some of the
16:19 proposals. And very interesting times
16:21 for CB radio in Australia.
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