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