The Australian Radiocommunications Act requires the ACMA to issue, and keep updated, a national radiofrequency spectrum plan.  This plan is based on the similar International plan contained in the ITU Radio Regulations, making choices about options where required. In parts of the spectrum where more detail is needed the ACMA issues statutory (or sometimes informal) band plans that show particular channel arrangements for assigning individual services. The legislation requires the ACMA to issue a licence to a request that is in accord with its statutory spectrum plan, unless to do so would cause harmful interference to another licensed service.

The legislation also provides a means for the ACMA to sell radio spectrum in the form of 15 year 'spectrum licences', but requires the ACMA to use a price-based competitive method when it chooses that option.

The ACMA process for preparing its national plan, band plans or spectrum marketing plans is quite open and transparent. Before any significant change discussion papers are published and an opportunity is provided for consultation with industry and government spectrum users.

SpectrumWise is able to assist its clients to submit influential responses to the ACMA on these occasions.  Through careful arguments, taking account of government and ACMA objectives and the needs of other spectrum users, it is often possible to fine tune the outcomes so that they do not harm business plans.

The SpectrumWise founder is a former leader of the ACMA group with primary responsibility for Australian spectrum planning and for negotiating solutions to the spectrum problems of particular industries, government users, or companies. We therefore know what is possible and how to develop winning strategies.

We help our clients produce convincing arguments on paper for the formal submissions, but we also arrange direct meetings with the key players so that personal relationships can assist the process.

The ACMA is open and approachable, however, since it has to juggle the competing interests of many users of the spectrum, it will not waste time battling with demanding, narrow interests.  There is an expectation that spectrum users will accommodate each others needs to the maximum degree possible, and successful submissions will need to demonstrate this attitude.