ACMA forms new group for community broadcasting sector

ACMA has formed a new internal team to liaise specifically with community broadcasters and “improve its interactions with the community broadcasting sector.” The regulator has recently come under fire from some community stations for its lack of understanding of the realities of this sector (see for example criticism from 2Hot FM Cobar in January), and in turn has been critical of the sector for breaches of management and sponsorship guidelines (see our recent story about Curtin FM). The new group, composed of people familiar with community broadcasting, may go some way to smoothing relations and providing continuity of contact for stations.

The new approach will be more proactive, entail a review of processes and procedures, and focus on improved information, consultation and transparency, and will see the establishment of a new ACMA team called the Community Broadcasting Group (CBG).

One of the group’s aims is to interact with the community broadcasting sector, especially its peak bodies, the CBAA and the newly formed community tv group, “in a highly consultative manner.” The single group, dealing with the whole range of licencing and investigation issues, is hoping to ensure a more consistent and efficient approach and minimise overlap or delay.

CBAA President Deb Welch has told radioinfo she thinks the group will bring benefits to broadcasters and the regulator: “It’s good that ACMA will be able to better understand the operating environment of community broadcasters. Conversely it will give community broadcasters greater clarity into the operations in the regulatory body.”

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman says the sector “is incredibly diverse and its several hundred members vary widely in their size and resources, and the quality of their governance arrangements. We have gone back to first principles and are looking for better ways to do business with the sector. The aim is to ensure sector members continue to serve the community while at the same time making the regulator more accessible and more accountable.”

The group will become an important touchstone for the regulator as the community radio sector struggles with potentially out of date definitions of its role that may hamper the sector’s transition into new digital radio formats.

The past emphasis on complaints is expected to be balanced by an increased emphasis on information and education throughout the life of their licences. ACMA wants the new approach to support the community broadcasting sector’s growth by improved processes, procedures and resources.

There are 353 community radio broadcasting services, comprising 275 long term community radio licences, 78 remote indigenous licences, 4 tv licences, 41 temporary community radio licences and 2 trial community tv licences.

The requirement that ACMA reviews each community broadcasting licence for renewal every five years came into effect in December 2002. Between 1 July 2004 and 29 February 2008, ACMA assessed 276 community radio renewal applications. Of these, 271 licences were renewed and five licences were not renewed.

A highlight of ACMA’s improved communication with the sector is the establishment of a dedicated section on the ACMA website, providing a single point of access to a broad array of information on community broadcasting services (click link below).

Community broadcasters will recognize at least two of the key people in the new group, Kate Timms and Phyllis Fong, who have been in regular contact with the community sector over the years. CBAA staff have already begun regular consultation meetings with the ACMA group, and most recently met with them about the codes of practice.