12 October

New community radio licence for Bundaberg

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated a new community radio licence to serve Bundaberg, Queensland.

The licence was allocated to Bundy FM Community Radio Inc. The new community service will operate on 94.7 MHz on the FM band

"The proposed service will add to the range and diversity of services in the Bundaberg region," said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "The applicant satisfied the ABA that it would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the general community in the Bundaberg licence area."

The ABA has allocated the licence after a process of consultation with the people of the local community to seek their views on what additional broadcasting services were needed in their area.

The ABA received two applications for the new community radio licence, one from Bundy FM Community Radio Association Inc, the other from Buralim Media Aboriginal Corporation.

Bundy FM seeks to represent the general community of Bundaberg while Buralim represent the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of the area.

The ABA considered that a group more broadly representative of the general community of the Bundaberg licence area would better meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community. At present there is no generalist community broadcasting service operating in the area.

The ABA has identified an additional frequency that Buralim could apply to access to provide temporary community broadcasting services to the indigenous community in Bundaberg.

To contact the new licensee, please call Mr Len Riley, Secretary, Bundy FM, on
(07) 4152 9222 or fax number (07) 4152 0909.

BACKGROUNDER

Bundaberg region

The Bundaberg area is currently served by the ABC and SBS national television services, and three commercial television services, RTQ, STQ and TNQ. In addition to four ABC radio services (4ABCRN, 4ABCRR, 4JJJ and 4ABCFM), there are two commercial services; 4BU Bundaberg and 4RUM and an open narrowcasting service providing TAB racing information.

A third commercial radio broadcasting licence was allocated by the ABA to RG Capital Pty Ltd on 28 August 1998. It will operate on 93.1 MHz.

An open narrowcasting channel was auctioned and allocated by the ABA on 30 September 1998 to Bundaberg Broadcasters Pty Ltd to operate on 97.1 MHz.

Community licence allocation

Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

(a) the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed service; and

(b) the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and

(c) the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and

(d) the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and

(e) the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and

(f) the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

The Minister may also give directions to the ABA to give priority to a particular community interest or interests.

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