The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has extended C31's broadcasting services bands (BSB) licence for another 5 years.
The ACMA is the statutory body responsible for regulating broadcasting, telecommunications, radiocommunications and online industries within Australia. For us, they act as the group who plan broadcast service allocations, regulate the content we broadcast and issue/renew broadcast licences.
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) outlines issues and stipulates the law around broadcasting, content regulation and media ownership within Australia. It also identifies community television as the vital third pillar of television broadcasting within Australia.
Our recently renewed licence allows us to legally broadcast under the BSA for a further 5 years, placing the onus back on the Federal Government to allow us to continue broadcasting on Australian free-to-air TV past June 2020.
In our 25th year, we're looking forward to working with the next Federal Government to find a permanent home for community television on free-to-air TV, and providing a home for local content creators for years to come.