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Public safety and emergency response licence

This class licence lets you use radio equipment for public safety or emergency response functions.

What this class licence does

This class licence allows authorised operators to use a range of radio equipment to perform, support or facilitate a public safety or emergency response function.

 To use a class licence, you must be a member or employee of:

  • a public safety body
  • an authorised body.

A public safety body may authorise you to use equipment under this licence. This authorisation must be in writing, and specify when the equipment can be used and for how long (up to 6 months).

It includes use by services for:

  • law enforcement
  • ambulance, firefighting, search or rescue
  • the protection of life, property or infrastructure
  • securing the health or safety of the public
  • assistance and relief to people affected by a natural disaster, extreme weather conditions or other emergency.

Licence rules

You don't need to apply for a class licence or pay any fees.

But you must follow all the rules in the:

Frequencies

The frequencies available for this service are in schedule 1 of the class licence.

Device rules and standards

The device or equipment you operate under the class licence must comply with our technical standards. 

These include:

  • some general standards – see Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
  • the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Standard 2017
  • the Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Standard – see Schedule 4 to the General Equipment Rules.

Read more about our technical standards including our general radiocommunications standards, the EMC standard and the EME standard.

If your device or equipment does not meet the rules in our technical standards, you will need a permit to supply, use or have it. This is separate from a licence. Find out about permits and fees under the General Equipment Rules.

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