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All
satellites must be 'notified' or registered with the ITU for
international treaty reasons related to the management of mutual interference. Only
national administrations recognised by
the ITU can do this. The Australian Administration, represent ed
by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA may
be
willing to provide this service to satellite operators who meet certain
criteria and are willing to pay the associated charges.
The action
of notifying a satellite incurs some serious on-going responsibilities
for the notifying administration. The ACMA will not
undertake these responsibilities unless it is totally convinced that
there are real benefits for Australia. In order to reach such a
decision, the Authority will consider a submission from the operator
addressing its published
criteria,
An
agreement for Australia to file a satellite cannot be taken for granted
because each case will be considered by the ACMA members at a formal
meeting where a determination will be made based on likely real
benefits to Australia.
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If
the outcome is positive then the
ACMA will proceed to file the satellite with the Radiocommunications
Bureau of the International Telecommunications Union. The Authority
currently charges a flat fee of A$13,200 for considering an
application. This is payable in advance of the decision and is non
refundable regardless of the decision made.
After agreeing that it will file the system, the ACMA will insist on
negotiating a deed of
agreement which will give it the legal power to force the
operator to take on any actions that may be necessary to manage
interference with other services.
SpectrumWise has been successful in convincing the ACMA to notify a
number of satellites on behalf of both Australian and Foreign clients.
The
next step is to prepare the filing document for the ITU. This process
is now entirely performed electronically through using certain ITU
software packages. This is a complicated technical process in
which
errors may
lead to additional fees, or the filing being rejected.
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