Pricing Progress achieved Scientific-assigned licences Following a November 2017 consultation on taxes associated with scientific-assigned licences, in November 2017, the ACMA made a decision to reduce taxes associated with scientific assigned licences by 90 per cent. Spectrum licence taxes The ACMA is currently consulting on changes to spectrum licence taxes to account for changes in the indirect cost of spectrum management and census data. The ACMA expects to make the relevant changes before the end of Q4 2017–18. Subsequent changes to spectrum licence taxes will also be required to account for new bands to be spectrum licensed, such as the 3.6 GHz band. Apparatus licence taxes Adjustments were made to apparatus licence taxes to account for changes in census data and inflation, and to clarify the application of taxes for PMTS Class B services in external territories. The adjustments came into effect in April 2018. The ACMA will continue to make changes to the apparatus licence tax regime to account for matters including adjusting taxes for inflation. 400 MHz monitoring framework and opportunity-cost pricing After releasing a consultation paper in November 2016 on opportunity-cost pricing in the 400 MHz band, the ACMA has reviewed the monitoring framework for the 400 MHz band. The updated monitoring analysis indicates that demand growth has not been as strong as previously thought, in part reflecting a shift to the use of devices by licensees. Given this, a planned third increase to licence tax rates is not currently justified and will not be implemented. The demand monitoring framework has been updated and a response was published in Q3 2017–18. Monitoring will continue on a semi-regular basis and increases can be re-instated if demand accelerates. In releasing the response paper, the ACMA invited interested stakeholders to engage with ACMA staff on understanding more detail about the monitoring framework and how it could be applied. Feedback to the 2017–21 FYSO related to a number of potential changes to apparatus licence and the flagging of information about reviews in the FYSO. A number of submissions suggested that the ACMA should review spectrum pricing for particular services (such as satellite services in and Ku-bands, and HPON services). The ACMA anticipates that the general pricing review flowing from recommendation 7 of the Spectrum Pricing Review will address pricing adjustments required across a number of industries and spectrum bands. New/ongoing activities planned for 2018–19 The ACMA is implementing new tax arrangements for apparatus licences associated with the transmitters used by commercial radio and television broadcasters in the Broadcasting Services Bands. The changes result from the media reform package
Pricing Progress achieved Scientific-assigned licences Following a November 2017 consultation on taxes associated with scientific-assigned licences, in November 2017, the ACMA made a decision to reduce taxes associated with scientific assigned licences by 90 per cent. Spectrum licence taxes The ACMA is currently consulting on changes to spectrum licence taxes to account for changes in the indirect cost of spectrum management and census data. The ACMA expects to make the relevant changes before the end of Q4 2017–18. Subsequent changes to spectrum licence taxes will also be required to account for new bands to be spectrum licensed, such as the 3.6 GHz band. Apparatus licence taxes Adjustments were made to apparatus licence taxes to account for changes in census data and inflation, and to clarify the application of taxes for PMTS Class B services in external territories. The adjustments came into effect in April 2018. The ACMA will continue to make changes to the apparatus licence tax regime to account for matters including adjusting taxes for inflation. 400 MHz monitoring framework and opportunity-cost pricing After releasing a consultation paper in November 2016 on opportunity-cost pricing in the 400 MHz band, the ACMA has reviewed the monitoring framework for the 400 MHz band. The updated monitoring analysis indicates that demand growth has not been as strong as previously thought, in part reflecting a shift to the use of devices by licensees. Given this, a planned third increase to licence tax rates is not currently justified and will not be implemented. The demand monitoring framework has been updated and a response was published in Q3 2017–18. Monitoring will continue on a semi-regular basis and increases can be re-instated if demand accelerates. In releasing the response paper, the ACMA invited interested stakeholders to engage with ACMA staff on understanding more detail about the monitoring framework and how it could be applied. Feedback to the 2017–21 FYSO related to a number of potential changes to apparatus licence and the flagging of information about reviews in the FYSO. A number of submissions suggested that the ACMA should review spectrum pricing for particular services (such as satellite services in and Ku-bands, and HPON services). The ACMA anticipates that the general pricing review flowing from recommendation 7 of the Spectrum Pricing Review will address pricing adjustments required across a number of industries and spectrum bands. New/ongoing activities planned for 2018–19 The ACMA is implementing new tax arrangements for apparatus licences associated with the transmitters used by commercial radio and television broadcasters in the Broadcasting Services Bands. The changes result from the media reform package
18-18-0074-00-0000-acma-draft-five-year-spectrum-outlook-2018-22.docx