The General Equipment Rules

The Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act) was amended by the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 (the Modernisation Act).

The Modernisation Act has changed some provisions for supplying equipment. These include:

• introducing the term ‘interim ban’
• updating the definition of ‘label’ to include QR codes
• repealing Part 4 of the Act and replacing it with a new Part 4 Equipment
• repealing section 301 of the Act, which restricted supply of cellular mobile repeaters (also known as mobile phone repeaters)
• introducing powers for the ACMA to create equipment rules, which can be used to:
  • keep parts of the existing arrangements
  • set up standards for equipment
  • enforce obligations or prohibitions for equipment
  • establish a permit scheme so we can issue, vary or cancel a permit
  • regulate the supply of cellular mobile repeaters.

In June 2021, the ACMA made the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 (the General Equipment Rules) under the Act. The General Equipment Rules are designed to enforce the existing standards and labelling notices that were saved as equipment rules, allow the ACMA to issue permits for possession, operation or supply of non-standard devices and/or unlabelled devices and regulate the supply of cellular mobile repeaters. 

Subsequently, the ACMA has repealed the Radiocommunications (Compliance Labelling – Electromagnetic Radiation) Notice 2014 (the EME Labelling Notice) and the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Radiation – Human Exposure) Standard 2014 (the Human Exposure Standard).

Our equipment supply regulation relating to EME is now specified in the General Equipment Rules. 

The ACMA has also repealed 14 radiocommunications technical standards (old general standards) and the Radiocommunications (Compliance Labelling – Devices) Notice 2014 (the Radiocommunications Labelling Notice).

The content of 13 old general standards and the Radiocommunications Labelling Notice is now specified in the General Equipment Rules with some amendments.

The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards and the Radiocommunications Labelling Electromagnetic Compatibility) Notice 2017 made under the Act remain in force as if they had been made as equipment rules. Suppliers will need to ensure they comply with the relevant requirements for their equipment.

The General Equipment Rules allow the ACMA to:

• enforce the remaining EMC standard and Labelling Notice
• provide general radiocommunications compliance and EME standards and labelling requirements
• issue permits that allow the possession, operation or supply of non-standard devices and/or unlabelled equipment
• regulate the supply of cellular mobile repeaters.

The General Equipment Rules includes a permit scheme, which allows us to issue permits for the possession, operation or supply of non-standard devices and/or unlabelled equipment.

Before you apply for a permit, contact the ACMA to request an invoice for the relevant application fee.

If you are applying to renew a permit that you already hold, the application fee may be different.

To apply, complete the form below.

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ACMA form: Application for a permit for non-standard and or unlabelled equipment

If you need any help, please contact us by phone on 1300 850 115 or email info@acma.gov.au.

We can declare a cellular mobile repeater to be exempt after assessing an application from a carrier. Find out more in Schedule 1 to the General Equipment Rules.

When we declare a repeater to be exempt, we publish a list of exempt repeaters on our website. This includes the following information about the repeater:

• the brand name
• the model number
• an image
• the carrier that requested the exemption.

Consumers will be able to review the list to make sure they are making a legitimate purchase.

This provision means carriers will have an alternative mechanism to allow the supply of cellular mobile repeaters.