ACMA Media
Release
121 /2010
Page 1 of 2
8
October 2010
Better protection proposed for radio astronomy
services in the Mid West ‘Radio Quiet Zone’
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a public
discussion paper canvassing regulatory measures to provide enhanced protection
for the Mid West Radio Quiet Zone (the RQZ) located in remote Western Australia
and to further support Australia’s bid for hosting the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
‘Providing enhanced measures to protect the RQZ will assist the Commonwealth in
providing the best RQZ in the world, thus making it an irresistible site for future radio
astronomy instruments including the international $2.5 billion SKA project,’ said
ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
Radio astronomy uses highly sensitive equipment particularly susceptible to
unwanted radiocommunications signals. The RQZ was established in 2005 and
aims to maintain the current ‘radio-quietness’ of a site in remote Western Australia
(near Boolardy Station, around 200 km east of Meekatharra).
‘The discussion paper canvasses additional measures which would provide
legislative protection to the site in this remote region of Australia for the first time,’
Mr Chapman said.
‘They have the potential to offer greater long-term certainty to the operators of key
radiocommunications facilities, but don’t require significant changes to the existing
technical parameters of the RQZ.
‘Rather, the proposals are primarily designed to upgrade the status of existing
regulatory measures from administrative status to subordinate legislation.’
Australia-New Zealand and South Africa have been shortlisted as two possible
locations to host the SKA. An international consortium is expected to make the final
decision in 2012.
A copy of the public discussion paper is available on the ACMA website.
The closing date for submissions is 5:00 pm, Friday, 19 November 2010.
Submissions received after this date may not be considered in the ACMA’s
decision-making process.
Please direct any queries about the issues in the discussion paper or the
consultation process to spectrum.outlook@acma.gov.au.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Donald
Robertson, Media Manager, on (02) 9334 7980, 0418 86 1766 or
media@acma.gov.au.
ACMA Media Release
121/2010
Page 2 of 2
The ACMA is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and
telecommunications. The ACMA’s strategic intent is to make communications and media work in
Australia’s public interest. For more information: www.acma.gov.au.
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