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Public Interest Criteria for re-issue of Spectrum Licences
Background
In the late 1990's the Australian Government commenced auctioning a number of spectrum licences intended primarily for the provision of wireless telecommunications services. The licences had 15 year tenure, flexible conditions and were fully tradeable. Australia was among the first countries in the world to issue licences on this basis. The first of the key spectrum licences will expire in 2013, with the remainder expiring by 2017.
While the licences currently range from 500MHz to 31GHz, it is expected that there will be a focus on the spectrum licences in the 800MHz, 1800MHz, 2.1GHz, 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands.
Discussion paper and public submissions
On 24 April 2009, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) invited comments on a public discussion paper on possible public interest criteria that could be used during consideration of whether 15 year spectrum licences should be reallocated through a price based method (e.g. auction) or renewed (subject to certain conditions). Some technical considerations were also raised in the paper. Submissions closed on 19 June 2009 and a number of late submissions were accepted.
Public copies of the submissions can be accessed here.