The ABA has decided to make FM channel capacity available for the Cairns commercial radio services, 4CCA at Redlynch Valley and 4HOT at Little Mulgrave, in far north Queensland.

The decision follows a request from the licensees of 4CCA and 4HOT to help resolve reception problems in these areas.

The ABA has also decided to make FM channel capacity available to the ABC in Cairns and Cairns North for future national radio services.

Acting ABA chief, Giles Tanner, says: “This is part of the ABA’s ongoing commitment to reserve channel capacity for possible future provision of the full range of ABC radio services to communities or regional transmission areas with a population of 10 000 or more.”

In addition, the ABA has decided to make FM channel capacity available for a new community radio service in Cairns and a new high power open narrowcasting radio service in Port Douglas. The Authority will call for applications for these radio services in the near future.

The decisions are contained in a variation to the Cairns radio licence area plan, available from the ABA’s website or by calling 1 800 810 241.