Following recent lobbying and disputes between the two aspirants for a new Alice Springs community licence, ACMA has decided not to allocate a permanent community radio licence in Alice Springs for at least 12 months.

Both stations will now be allowed to test broadcast until a final decision is made.

The frequencies set aside for the licence (102.1 MHz – Alice Springs and 102.1 MHz -Tennant Creek) will be “made available for temporary community broadcasting purposes” and both aspirants will be invited to submit applications to conduct temporary broadcasts during this period.

There were two applicants for the permanent Alice Springs licence — 8CCC Community Radio Inc (8CCC) and CRACA Community Radio Association of Central Australia Inc (CRACA). Both applicants proposed to provide services targeting the general community.

radioinfo in earlier stories traced the history of the application process after 8CCC lost the rights to the licence because of a restructure of the entity which originally held the licence.

Acting ACMA Chair Lyn Maddock says: “After giving careful consideration to the criteria set out in the legislation and the information provided by both applicants, ACMA has decided that neither applicant merits the licence. ACMA will review the situation within 12 months, with a view to re-advertising the availability of the licence.”

The Alice Springs area is currently served by four national radio services (8ABCFM, 8ABCRN, 8AL and 8JJJ); two commercial radio services (8HA and 8SUN); one community broadcasting service (8KIN); and two open narrowcasting services.

For the full background on each aspirant station and their positions on the old 8CCC licence, see our earlier story (click link below)