3.1 WIA Voluntary Band Plans vs Mandatory Licence Conditions
Key Takeaways
Check the Class Licence and its Schedule 2 for legal frequency, mode and power limits. Assigned stations check their apparatus licence and applicable determinations.
The voluntary WIA and IARU plans coordinate use within bands. ACMA may also make legislative frequency band plans under section 32 of the Radiocommunications Act.
For personal class-licensed operation, section 15 prohibits harmful interference. Section 197 of the Act is a separate civil penalty provision for substantial interference, disruption or disturbance.
Choose a suitable segment, listen, ask whether the frequency is in use when appropriate, and leave room for the emission’s occupied frequencies.
Read each document for the decision it governs
The Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan describes allocations to radiocommunications services and their footnotes. The Act also empowers ACMA to make legislative frequency band plans under section 32. For personal amateur operation, the Amateur Class Licence authorises operation subject to conditions. Section 17 and Schedule 2 set the qualification-specific frequency, power and emission limits, and section 18 adds location and spectrum-licence restrictions. A repeater or propagation beacon operator checks the assigned apparatus licence and applicable determinations.
The IARU Region 3 band plans recommend arrangements for modes and activities across the region. The WIA Australian band plan gives more detailed domestic recommendations for activities including Morse (CW), narrowband voice, data, satellite operation and repeater input/output channels. Use the regional plan to understand how stations in different administrations coordinate contacts. Use the WIA plan for Australian operating conventions and check the relevant administration’s rules when operating abroad.
| Question | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Does Australia allocate this band to the amateur service, and on what basis? | Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan and applicable footnotes |
| May this Standard operator transmit this emission and power here? | Class Licence section 17, Schedule 2 Table B, and section 18 |
| Where are operators likely to listen for this kind of contact? | Current WIA band plan, relevant regional plan and station procedures |
| Is this signal causing harmful interference? | Actual signal and affected service, and the conditions of the applicable licence |
Choose a segment and test the result
A Standard operator proposes voice near 7.030 MHz. That frequency is within the Schedule 2 Table B item 2 range, but the WIA February 2026 plan gives CW priority at 7.000–7.040 MHz and identifies 7.030 MHz for low-power CW activity. A voice signal can cover multiple narrow CW signals. Pick a suitable voice segment, account for the sideband and check whether the channel is occupied. The legal authority check and the operating decision answer different questions. In the 2-metre band, the same reasoning sends a narrowband SSB caller to the WIA national calling frequency of 144.100 MHz, and an AX.25 APRS operator to the 145.175 MHz recommendation. Each frequency still requires an independent licence and interference check.
Compare a domestic and regional recommendation
The WIA and IARU documents can use different segment boundaries or describe the same spectrum at different levels of detail. On 40 metres, the IARU Region 3 plan includes a CW preference at 7.000–7.030 MHz and a mixed preference at 7.030–7.040 MHz. The Australian WIA plan gives CW priority across 7.000–7.040 MHz. If a contact is possible in the mixed regional segment, an Australian operator still chooses a suitable frequency using the domestic plan and current activity.
The IARU Region 3 40-metre table stops at 7.200 MHz. Australia’s Schedule 2 has a row extending to 7.300 MHz at each qualification level, with its own bandwidth and power conditions. For a contact with a station overseas, establish that both stations may use the proposed frequency under their own rules before relying on that choice. This is especially important near the upper end of 40 metres. The regional recommendation and the national authorisation each supply part of that operating decision.
Use and share the frequency responsibly
Listen before transmitting. A quiet receiver can mean you hear only one side of an exchange, so allow time and ask whether the frequency is in use when appropriate. In CW, QRL? is a short way to ask. If a weak reply comes back, move to another suitable frequency. On a voice calling frequency, arrange a move for a longer contact when practical. Keep on-air identification in mind. Routine Class Licence section 12 and the emergency services arrangements in section 14 have separate timing conditions, explained in section 4.3 of this guide.
The voluntary recommendation remains voluntary if a problem occurs. Class Licence section 15 independently prohibits operation causing harmful interference and sets spurious-emission limits. Act section 197 separately prohibits conduct that results or is likely to result in substantial interference, disruption or disturbance to the radiocommunications described there, with a civil penalty. If a report points to your signal, pause, check the frequency, mode, bandwidth and equipment, and resolve the interference before continuing.
ACMA operating procedures · WIA Australian band plans · IARU Region 3 band plans · Amateur Class Licence · Radiocommunications Act
Which document gives the qualification-specific legal frequency and power limits for a personal Standard station?
The Amateur Class Licence, including Schedule 2 Table B.
The WIA Australian band plan.
The IARU Region 3 operating recommendation.
The manufacturer’s published tuning range.
A proposed voice signal meets the operator’s frequency and emission limits but falls in the WIA segment with CW priority at 7.030 MHz. What should the operator do?
Treat the CW recommendation as an ACMA frequency assignment.
Select a suitable voice segment and check that the frequency is clear.
Transmit there at full permitted power if the local receiver is quiet.
Assume that every departure from the WIA plan is a section 197 offence.
A weak station answers QRL? with an indication that the frequency is occupied. What is the appropriate next step?
Send a longer test signal to measure the path.
Start the planned exchange and stop if another station repeats the reply.
Choose another suitable frequency and check it before using it.
Change mode on the same frequency and continue.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.