Apply for a community radio licence

Companies can only apply if they:

• formed in Australia or an Australian territory
• represent a community interest.

‘Companies’ in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 includes:

• incorporated associations 
• companies limited by guarantee.

It is not appropriate for other companies to hold a community licence. This includes:

• certain cooperatives 
• companies limited by shares.

For long-term community broadcasting licences, we assess:

• how well the proposed service would meet the community’s current and future needs 
• the interests in that community
• how well the services would provide material that is significant to the local community
• other broadcasting services in that licence area, including national services 
• whether the applicant is able to provide the proposed service.

We also consider whether this licence would lead to a situation we don’t want such as:

• one person in control of more than one community broadcasting service in the same licence area
• the Commonwealth, a state or territory or a political party in control of a community broadcasting licence.

In assessing your application, we may identify areas for improvement. If we approve the application, we’ll let you know about these by assigning you actions to complete.

If we give you a licence, you must start to broadcast within one year unless we agree to a longer date.

We allocate community broadcasting licences under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.