Use of 40 channel UHF radios not to be made illegal

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had originally announced that due to fears of congestion the use of 40 channel UHF radios, or citizens band (CB) radios, would no longer be permitted from June 2017.

Those affected would have needed to upgrade to 80 channel radios.

But after speaking with CB users and monitoring channels the ACMA have reversed their decision allowing use of the radios and interlinking of CB repeaters. 

ACMA’s Spectrum Licensing Policy section manager Dominic Byrne said it was a common sense approach and would benefit a lot of people particularly in rural areas.

“Limitations on both things were put in place to reduce the potential for congestion but subsequent monitoring by us and talking to CB users indicates that congestion isn’t the problem it was when changes were first introduced in 2011,” he said.

“We expect this to be something positive particularly in regional remote areas where we understand there is a lot of older style equipment still out there.

“People replace them only as they have to and there is also some practice particularly in more remote areas of interlinking the CB repeaters which can be a problem in the city but it can be a real benefit in country areas.”

National Road Freighters Association president Tony Hopkins said if the decision hadn’t been reversed it would have cost his business, which includes 50 trucks, about $40,000 to replace the old UHF radios.

“I think it was one (decision) of common sense for a change,” he said.

“It was kept pretty quiet that they were doing it in that respect and I believe people wouldn’t have known about it until they got the fines for it. 

“It literally would have cost not only the industry but have a look at how many private residences, grey nomads, workshops have them, it would have cost millions and millions of dollars (to replace them).”

The proposed changes are open for online consultation and people can submit a comment by visiting acma.gov.au