1. Australian Report -- The view from down under
Tasso Tzioumis
Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science
RAFCAP2010 – Mitaka June 2010

2. Radio Telescopes

3. LBA Radio Telescopes in Australia
x Katherine
x ASKAP
x Yarragadee
x New Norcia
LBA includes the ATNF telescopes plus those run by University of Tasmania at Hobart and Ceduna (SA), Tidbinbilla near Canberra (part of NASAs Deep Space Network). The ESA dish at New Norcia, north of Perth may also be included in the future. Also the AuScope geodetic antennas (12m) at Hobart, Yarragadee & Katherine. x
CSIRO.

4. New Radio Telescopes - Auscope
AuScope VLBI Project
3 new antennas
Geodetic/astrometric VLBI observations – IVS
Advanced construction

5. New Radio Telescopes – ASKAP & NZ
First ASKAP antenna (from planned 36)
12m antenna; Alt-Az mount
3rd axis motion for polarisation
Very fast: 4 degs/second
Interim VLBI system at 1400 MHz
NZ Warkworth antenna
12m antenna; Alt-Az mount
Similar to AuScope
Very fast: 4 degs/second
Interim VLBI system at 1400 MHz

6. Latest image for LBA + NZ + 1st ASKAP antenna Centaurus A

7. Spectrum Issues

8. “Radio sensitive zones” in Australia
Radio Act review 2002 – “radio sensitive zones”
Notification and coordination - no protection
Regulatory RALI (2006) covers all Oz RA sites (MS31)
Studies by ACMA (administration)

9. Notification Zone Parameters
Limits derived from RA.769 (+ ~10-15 dB) & VLBI
Propagation models from P.526 (Diffraction) and terrain models.

10. Management of Radio Notification Zones
contact:
Group for RFI and Spectrum issues
RALI MS31 – response within 1-week
Includes all existing radio telescopes in Australia
~ average 1 notification /month
Work Collaboratively with Tx proponents
Works very well in practice
Latest example
Network by Transgrid (power distribution company)
Fixed links at ~6.5 GHz
Proposed 6660 MHz link at 35 km to Parkes
Could affect Methanol observations at 6.7 GHz
Moved channel allocation to not impact methanol
Informal s & phone calls

11. Murchison Radio Observatory

12. Murchison Radio Observatory
gazetted towns: 0
population: “up to 160”

13. MRO (SKA) site protection
Multi-layered protection
Ownership and control of central area (Boolardy)
EMI controls
Mineral resource management area – state govt
Radio Quiet Zone
Embargo 41 (since 2005)
RALI MS32 (since 2007)
(available from ACMA website)
Preserve, maintain and enhance radio-quieteness
Pathfinders now (ASKAP, MWA,…)
SKA in future

14. Embargo 41
In force since 2005
No new assignments in the range 100‑230 MHz within 150 km radius of the centre point of the RQZ.
No new assignments in the range 230 MHz‑25.25 GHz within 100 km radius of the centre point.
Applies to all apparatus licensed, coordinated terrestrial stations and earth stations within the specified zone. (Grand-fathering allowed…)
Exceptions require a case-by-case consideration and approval of the Manager, Spectrum Planning and Engineering Section of the ACMA.

15. SKA RQZ in Australia Studies & definition by ACMA & CSIRO
RALI MS32 - in force since 24/9/2007

16. RALI MS 32 distances >230 MHz restricted 100-230 MHz restricted
MHz coordination

17. Oz RQZ procedures
From RALI MS32

18. Radiocommunications Act (1992)
Governs all telecommunications in Australia
Radio astronomy already recognised
Section 21 Astronomical and meteorological observations
This Act applies to a radio emission in connection with making astronomical or meteorological observations in the same way as it applies to a radiocommunication.
Wide scope for making regulations
Section 314 Regulations ……
(2) ….. the regulations may make provision in relation to:
(a) prohibiting or regulating any act or thing likely to cause interference, or risk of interference, to radiocommunications; or
(b) prohibiting or regulating making of radio emissions from a place within a specified area; or …..

19. Next steps Maintain and strengthen RQZ
EMI
Radiocommunications
Use Radcommunications Act (1992) to:
Enact new regulations as needed
Strengthen/streamline current provisions
New legislative instruments ?
Political support
ACMA critical to success
Work with the regulator not against it!!

20. Thank you! Questions? Tasso Tzioumis Tasso.tzioumis@csiro.au
Contact Us
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Thank you! Questions?
Tasso Tzioumis