ALERT re radio mics & wireless

[Glenny Palmer]

G'day all,
This is a bit long winded, but while I know absolutely zero about radio mics etc it looks like it may well be advisable to alert those of us who do....& who use such devices in their performances.


MBE148/45 Glenferrie Road
Malvern VIC 3144
Ph 03 9527 8133

Dear Local Government Officers,

Major changes to the operation of wireless audio devices announced by Government…………and what it really means to users of radio mics and other wireless audio devices

You may or may not be aware that there will soon be changes to the use of radio microphones, and other wireless audio devices within Australia. These changes are now imminent and they will affect your arts and recreational activities and the community groups that use them.


What’s changing?

It will be no longer legal to operate wireless microphones in the radio frequency spectrum (spectrum) between 694Mhz and 820MHz after December 31st 2014 meaning that:
• Around 40% of the spectrum previously available for use is to be removed, and that
• At least 150,000 radio mics currently in use will need to be switched off and scrapped. That represents the scrapping of around 4 in every 5 radio mics currently in use in this country and will likely impact some of the radio microphones and other devices owned and operated by your council or community groups.

To continue to use radio mics beyond December 31st 2014 users will either need to:
• Ensure your devices operate between 520 and 694MHz (just 1 in 5 currently deployed devices are likely to do this) or;
• Purchase new equipment that will operate within the new approved spectrum

The use of devices operating between 694MHz and 820MHz beyond December 31st 2014 is punishable by fines and potentially jail under the Radio Communications Act.


What does it mean?

Scrapping and replacing the existing devices operating in Australia between 694MHz and 820MHz is estimated to cost the businesses and community groups operating them over $220 million1.

Yet no provision has been made by Government to assist with the transition despite:
• the Government taking $2 billion in income from the sell-off and re-use of the 694-820MHz spectrum to Telstra and Optus
• the Government assisting the TV broadcasters (the other sector impacted by this change) with their digital transition through the removal of hundreds of millions of dollars of licence fees
• the Government being fully aware that the direct cost of replacing existing radio mics is in the order of $220 million. A cost apparently to be borne by business and community groups.
• that radio microphone use enables more than $32 billion worth of economic activity each year sectors as diverse as music, live performance and entertainment, the fitness industry, tourism, meetings and conventions, broadcasting and others, in addition to the value of community activities including worship, in schools, as well as in community arts and recreation

Despite this being on the agenda for more than six years the Government and the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) have not communicated with any users to date, save for a single posting on the ACMA website. Even now, less than 18 months from the switch off date the Government and the ACMA show no inclination to even advise users or key industry or community groups of these changes, let alone support wireless audio users in this transition. The Government has chosen not to provide adequate financial support to either the ACMA or industry in support of a public education and communications campaign.

If you are feeling angry at this point you have every right to be. This issue was not of the making of radio mic users, as they are currently operating these devices under what is known as a class licence, yet these users are having to bear the brunt and the costs of what increasingly looks like another policy failure by a Federal Government.

What happens next?

Check your existing inventory

You should take some time to check the spectrum your existing devices operate within.
• If they are tuned to between 520 and 694MHz then they can continue to be used beyond December 31st 2014.
• Any other devices need to be ear-marked for scrap prior to that date.

On the issue of scrap. These 150,000 devices will contribute in excess of 18,000 tonnes to landfill. We will be throwing away high value metals such as gold, copper and palladium, as well as, toxic metals including cadmium, mercury and lead. Again despite the urging of ACETA no provision has been made to accommodate the e-waste associated with this transition.

Replacing your existing inventory

New compliant product from most of the major manufacturers is now available. When replacing or adding devices you need to:

• Ensure they operate between 520MHz and 694Mhz or between 1790Mhz and 1800MHz.
• Check if the product fits in and around the TV broadcasters in your area. This is a little harder but your supplier, retailer or the importer has this information.
• Purchase product with the greatest agility or range you can afford. A tuning range of say 520-560Mhz (therefore tuning across 40MHz) will cost more but provide more flexibility than a product that tuning just 8MHz- say from 520-528Mhz.

Any recent product purchases (from mid-2012 onwards) are likely to be compliant provided it has come from a major brand. Nonetheless you should check the product specification in the owner’s manual or with the supplier to be sure.

Help get the message out to users

With no substantive communications program planned to advise users from the Government or the ACMA the news of these changes is having to be delivered by industry groups such as ACETA. Communicating the message to some groups is relatively straight forward but it is almost impossible for us to locate the thousands of community groups from local theatre to Little Athletics or Surf Lifesaving Clubs. We would therefore appreciate if you could pass this information onto those groups who use your facilities.

Compensation for affected users

AWAG have been discussing this with the Government and the ACMA for over 6 years. The solutions by and large are not that difficult to achieve but in order to achieve a fair outcome, with minimal disruption to users and the activities they undertake, an investment of some of the digital dividend windfall of $2 billion to Government is required. Otherwise through ignorance or intent, (because users are being left with no economic choice) at least 150,000 radio mic users will become Australia’s newest class of criminal. To assist in getting the message to Government join our petition at http://www.wirelessaudioaustralia.org and let’s make ourselves heard. In the past week more than 1,200 Australian’s have added their voice in support of a fair and workable solution.

Users can also write to the three key Federal politicians dealing with this issue and let their views be known:

• Communications Minister Anthony Albanese A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au
• Shadow Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull http://www.facebook.com/malcolmturnbull
• Spokesman on Communications for the Greens, Senator Scott Ludlum senator.ludlam@aph.gov.au

Or all can be reached through Parliamentary mail at: PO Box 6022 Canberra ACT 2600

More information

• Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.aceta.org.au/awag and also at http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Supplie ... ss-mic-hub
• Friend the AWAG Facebook page for up to date information http://www.facebook.com/awagaustralia
• Your local retailer or Australian distributor will have specific information on both your existing and potential replacement products.

Yours faithfully,
Ian Harvey
Executive Officer of ACETA
on behalf of the Australian Wireless Audio Group
1/ Untethering the microphone, Windsor Place Consulting 2010

[keats]

Whoops missed that. Can you say it again?

[Bob Pacey]

Geeees thanks Glenny just brought a new unit on Saturday


bob

[Glenny Palmer]

I wasn't sure it applied to us Bob, but was worried for everyone if it does. Hopefully your new one will be ok.

Mr McArthur.......blaaaark!! (xx)

[Bob Pacey]

hey how come Neil gets the xx and I don't get any ?????/


Dirty old men need love to ya know


Bob

[Glenny Palmer]

beeecos Roberto....a smart woman always kisses the bloke she bashed, better. You didn't get bashed!....yet. (Oh all right......xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

[Neville Briggs]

Why is this being done ??

[Glenny Palmer]

I have no clue Neville. Perhaps the man to ask is the writer of that odyssey? It's probably just another grab for dollars from the powers that be....? I think there is a link in the body of the letter to sign a petition about it..........???

[Neville Briggs]

Oh