Radiocommunications (Radio-controlled Models) Class Licence 2025

This is the Radiocommunications (Radio-controlled Models) Class Licence 2025.

This instrument commences at the start of 1 October 2025.

Note: The Federal Register of Legislation is available, free of charge, at www.legislation.gov.au.

This instrument is made under section 132 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:

29 MHz band means the part of the spectrum from 29.72 MHz to 30 MHz.

36 MHz band means the part of the spectrum from 36 MHz to 36.6 MHz.

landcraft means a land-based vehicle.

Note 1: A number of other expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:

equipment rules;

frequency band;

interference;

operate;

radiocommunication;

radiocommunications device;

vessel.

Note 2: Other expressions used in this instrument may be defined in a determination made under subsection 64(1) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005, including:

Act;

ARPANSA Standard;

EIRP.

In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a part of the spectrum or frequency band includes all frequencies that are greater than but not including the lower frequency, up to and including the higher frequency.

Unless the contrary intention appears, no condition in this instrument limits any other condition.

In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:

a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and

a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other instrument or writing as in force, or existing, from time to time.

Note 1: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.

Note 2: All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Note 3: See section 314A of the Act.

This instrument authorises a person to operate a radiocommunications device to control:

a model aircraft;

a model landcraft;

a model vessel.

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device if the operation causes interference to radiocommunications.

Note 1: Under section 197 of the Act, a person must not engage in conduct that will result, or is likely to result in, substantial interference, substantial disruption or substantial disturbance to radiocommunications within Australia, or to radiocommunications between a place in Australia and a place outside Australia.

Note 2: The ACMA will generally not afford protection from interference to radiocommunications involving a radiocommunications device operated under this instrument.

Use of 29 MHz band or 36 MHz band

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device otherwise than on a frequency in the 29 MHz band or the 36 MHz band.

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device in the 36 MHz band to control a model landcraft.

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device in the 36 MHz band otherwise than on a frequency worked out using:

if the device is used to control a model vessel – the formula in subsection (4);

if the device is used to control a model aircraft – either the formula in subsection (4) or the formula in subsection (5).

For the purposes of paragraphs (3)(a) and (b), the formula is:

35.99 + n(0.02) MHz where “n” is a whole number between one and 30 (both inclusive).

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), the formula is:

36 + n(0.02) MHz where “n” is a whole number between one and 29 (both inclusive).

EIRP range

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device otherwise than with an EIRP that is:

greater than 300 mW; and

equal to or less than 1 W.

A person must not operate a radiocommunications device or a group of radiocommunications devices if:

equipment rules do not prescribe the EME standard for the device, or for 2 or more devices in the group; and

the device, or group, when operated, does not comply with the basic restrictions for general public exposure.

Note: If equipment rules prescribe the EME standard for a radiocommunications device, see section 160 of the Act.

In subsection (1):

basic restrictions means the restrictions identified as basic restrictions in the ARPANSA Standard.

Note: The ARPANSA Standard is available, free of charge, from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website at www.arpansa.gov.au.

EME standard has the meaning given by the:

(a) the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021; or

if a later instrument replaces those rules and defines the term – the later instrument.

Note: The Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 are available, free of charge, from the Federal Register of Legislation at www.legislation.gov.au.