The deadline has passed for public comments on proposals for Launceston’s first FM commercial radio licence.

The ABA, after releasing a discussion paper and inviting submissions, has found a frequency if there are any takers.

Three frequencies were cleared with the move of TV services in the region, making FM 89.3 or FM 90.1 potentially available for commercial radio and FM 104.5 for a new community service.

The ABA says it is interested ‘in providing FM commercial radio to all Australians, where practicable.’

The discussion paper also invited submissions on whether additional channel capacity should be made available for an extra community service in Launceston. A copy of the paper is available from the ABA website or by calling 1 800 810 241.

Meanwhile, copies of all applications for a new community radio licence for the Gosford area, on the NSW Central Coast, have been made available for public perusal.

The submissions are on display in the Gosford City Public Library and have been placed on the ABA’s website (www.aba.gov.au/radio).

While the ABA prepares to decide who will get a permanent community licence in Gosford, it has invited all three aspirant groups to take up time under the Temporary Community Broadcast provisions of the Act.

PCR FM, Radio Yesteryear and Rhema have all been allocated TCBL broadcast dates in the next few months.

Yesteryear is back on from 1/4/04-31/5/04, PCR FM will be on air from 1/6/04-31/7/04 and Rhema FM Gosford has been allocated 1/8/04-30/9/04.

The TCBL dates indicate the ABA is unlikely to make a final decision on the controversial licence allocation until the end of the year.