Minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released two draft ministerial directions for public consultation to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that will govern the terms of the sale of the remaining 700 MHz spectrum from last month’s digital dividends auction.
The draft directions include: radiocommunications (spectrum access charges – 700 MHz band) director no. 1 of 2013, which requires ACMA to fix spectrum access charges for the remaining spectrum at a price not less than $1.36/MHz/pop, and corresponds with the reserve price at which it was offered at the auction.
The second, ACMA (spectrum allocation – post-auction review) direction no. 1 of 2013, requires ACMA to report to the communications minister the appropriate procedures for returning the unsold 700 MHz spectrum to market. This must be done by September 1, 2014.
“The ACMA report in September 2014 will inform the decision about how to bring the remaining 700 MHz spectrum back to market in a way that provides the greatest benefit to the Commonwealth, interested purchasers, and the Australian public,” Conroy said.
“The ACMA has previously stated it should not be assumed any unsold spectrum would be returned to market in the short term, or at a price that is lower than the reserve price set for this auction. These proposed Directions formalise that approach.”
Submissions are invited by July 19, 2013.
