Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY issues this Class Licence under subsection 132 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Dated  31st August  2006
CHRIS CHAPMAN
Chairman
 
LYN MADDOCK
Deputy Chair
 
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Contents
Part 1                    Preliminary
                        1     Name of Class Licence                                                                        2
                        2     When Class Licence comes into force                                                   2
                        3     Definitions                                                                                           2
Part 2                    Effect of Class Licence
                        4     Application of class licence                                                                  4
                        5     Class licence                                                                                      4
                        6     Conditions — distress situation                                                            4
                        7     Conditions — standards (device compliance day before 13 February 2002) 5
                        8     Conditions — standards (device compliance day on or after 13 February 2002) 5
Schedule 1             Technical requirements                                                                    6
 
 
Part 1                 Preliminary
  
1              Name of Class Licence
                This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006.
2              When Class Licence comes into force
                This Class Licence comes into force on the day after it is registered.
3              Definitions
         (1)   In this Class Licence:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
COSPAS‑SARSAT System means a satellite‑aided search and rescue system designed to locate activated radiocommunications devices transmitting on the frequency of 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz or within the 406‑406.1 MHz frequency range.
date of effect means the date an instrument mentioned in Schedule 1 took effect.
device compliance day, for a radiocommunications device to which this Class Licence applies, means the most recent of the following days:
                (a)    if the radiocommunications device was manufactured in Australia — the day the device was manufactured;
               (b)    if the radiocommunications device was manufactured overseas and imported — the day the device was imported;
                (c)    if the radiocommunications device was altered or modified in a material respect — the day the device was altered or modified.
distress beacon means a radiocommunications device:
                (a)    that is a mobile station, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations; and
               (b)    to which one or more of the following standards, as published by Standards Australia and as in force from time to time, is applicable:
                          (i)    AS/NZS 4330;
                         (ii)    AS/NZS 4280.1;
                         (iii)    AS/NZS 4280.2.
emergency locating device means:
                (a)    a distress beacon; or
               (b)    an MSLS.
MSLS (maritime survivor locating system) means a safety system that has the following features:
                (a)    it comprises:
                          (i)    an MSLS transmitter; and
                         (ii)    an MSLS receiver; and
                         (iii)    an MSLS locator;
               (b)    it is not an EPIRB;
                (c)    it is intended for short‑range retrieval of individuals engaged in:
                          (i)    on‑deck activities on vessels; or
                         (ii)    on‑shore activities, where falling into the water is a risk; or
                         (iii)    other marine activities where a locating system may be required;
               (d)    it is designed to sound an alert when a person has fallen into the water or has manually activated the device to signal a need for assistance from a vessel or facility;
                (e)    AS/NZS 4869.1, as published by Standards Australia and as in force from time to time, is applicable to it;
whether or not it includes some form of localising device.
Note 1   An MSLS may also be referred to as a man‑overboard (MOB) system.
Note 2   A localising device includes direction finding equipment designed to transmit a local alert primary to a receiver on a vessel or facility.
MSLS locator means a fixed device designed to assist the location of an MSLS transmitter, which may be in the form of:
                (a)    a part of an MSLS receiver; or
               (b)    a device that is separate from an MSLS receiver.
MSLS receiver means a fixed device designed to receive an alert signal to an MSLS transmitter.
MSLS transmitter means a portable transmitting device that sends an alert signal to an MSLS receiver.
         (2)   A reference in this Class Licence to:
                (a)    another instrument made under the Act; or
               (b)    another document published by ACMA;
is a reference to the instrument, publication or other document as in force or existing from time to time.
Note   For the definition of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000 and the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993.
 
Part 2                 Effect of Class Licence
  
4              Application of class licence
         (1)   This Class Licence authorises a person to operate the kinds of radiocommunications devices mentioned in subsection (2) for the purpose of facilitating search and rescue operations.
         (2)   This Class Licence applies to the following kinds of radiocommunications devices:
                (a)    a distress beacon (other than an EPIRB that is on an aircraft and whose operation is authorised under the Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006);
               (b)    an MSLS.
Note   Subsection (2) does not authorise the operation of a device that may form part of an MSLS but which is operated independently of an MSLS.
         (3)   This Class Licence does not apply to a radiocommunications device in respect of which an apparatus licence is in force if the apparatus licence authorises the licensee to operate the device for a purpose that is substantially the same as the purpose mentioned in subsection (1).
5              Class licence
         (1)   This Class Licence authorises a person to operate a distress beacon mentioned in paragraph 4 (2) (a) on any of the following frequencies or frequency range:
                (a)    121.5 MHz;
               (b)    243.0 MHz;
                (c)    406‑406.1 MHz.
Note   The COSPAS‑SARSAT System will not receive transmission on 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz from 1 Febr uary 2009.
         (2)   This Class Licence authorises a person to operate an MSLS on the frequency 121.5 MHz.
6              Conditions — distress situation
         (1)   A radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) must only be operated:
                (a)    as an emergency signal; and
               (b)    in response to a distress situation.
         (2)   A distress situation is one in which:
                (a)    there is risk of imminent or grave danger of injury to, or death of, a person; and
               (b)    the person requires immediate assistance.
7              Conditions — standards (device compliance day before 13 February 2002)
                If the device compliance day for a radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) is after the day mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 1 and before 13 February 2002, the device must comply with any standard mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1:
                (a)    that applies to the device; and
               (b)    took effect most recently before the device compliance day for the device.
8              Conditions — standards (device compliance day on or after 13 February 2002)
                If the device compliance day for a radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) is on or after 13 February 2002, the device must comply with any standard applicable to it as in force on the device compliance day for the device.
Note 1   Section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 provides that standard means a standard made under section 162 of that Act.
Note 2   The Australian Communications and Media Authority wishes to make it clear that if a standard mentioned in this section is amended or replaced by another standard after the device compliance day for the device, the device need not comply with the new or amended standard.
Note 3   Identical devices may have different device compliance days. A device is only required to comply with the standards that are in force on the device compliance day for that device.
Schedule 1        Technical requirements
(section 7)
  
 
Device
Instrument
Date of effect

EPIRB
Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1987, No. 266)
1 December 1987

 
Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 70)
27 February 1990

 
Radiocommunications Standard (121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) No. 1 of 1996
7 July 1999

MSLS
Ministerial Standard 309 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 71)
27 February 1990

 
Radiocommunications Standard (406 MHz Satellite Distress Beacons) No. 1 of 1996
7 July 1999

 
Note 1   Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1987, No. 266) dealt with EPIRBs. Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 70) revoked that instrument on 27 February 1990.
Note 2   Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 70) dealt with EPIRBs. The Radiocommunications Standards Revocation 1999 revoked that instrument on 29 June 1999.
Note 3   Ministerial Standard 309 (Statutory Rules 1990 No.71) dealt with 406 MHz satellite distress beacons. The Radiocommunications Standards Revocation 1999 revoked that instrument on 29 June 1999.