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Narrowcasting
Open narrowcasting radio services are those which have reception limited in some way. This limitation can be defined by several means including (but not restricted to):
- targeted at a special interest group (e.g. religious programming)
- limited location (e.g. shopping centres, arenas, hospitals, schools)
- limited time period of transmission (e.g. a community event/festival)
- programs of limited appeal (e.g. ethnic language services).
In 2003 the then Australian Broadcasting Authority (now known as the Australian Communication and Media Authority) completed a section 19 clarification of the category in an attempt to give industry some certainty. The Broadcasting Services Clarification Notice 2001 and a further draft clarification notice was prepared in March 2002 can be accessed at the ACMA's website: 
www.acma.gov.au/acmainter.
Open narrowcasters use spectrum that is not being used by other national, commercial or community broadcasters in a licence area. Unlike broadcasting services, narrowcasters operate under a class licence and do not need individual broadcasting licences. They do, however, require transmitter licences which are issued by ACMA.
Compared to other broadcasting services, open narrowcasters are subject to minimal regulation under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). This reflects their ability to be less influential on community views compared to mainstream broadcasting services. Open narrowcasters are not subject to any domestic or foreign ownership and control provisions or Australian content levels. However, they are subject to general licence conditions that apply to all broadcasters and narrowcasters (e.g. prohibition of tobacco advertising, compliance with programming standards, not to use the service to commit an offence).