ACMA UPDATE

3 September 2024

New fees, reminder to reassign or reconfirm call signs

New amateur radio fees

From 1 September 2024, we will introduce new fees for the following call sign activities:

• Reassigning a:

  • special event call sign: $34.00

  • VK0 and VK9 call sign: $34.00

  • contest call sign: $15.00

• Transferring a call sign to another amateur operator: $15.00

The amateur radio call sign policy and website has been updated to reflect these new charges. Information about how we set fees is in the Fees for service cost recovery implementation statement.

Reassigning call signs

Special event, contest, VK0 or VK9 call signs have a designated assignment period of 12 months. We will contact you before the expiry to remind you to apply to have the call sign reassigned to you (the fees listed above will apply). If a reassignment application is not made before the expiry date, the call sign will no longer be assigned to you, and will be made available on the call sign register.

Amateur operators with 2-letter, 3-letter and F-series call signs should reconfirm ongoing use of their call sign every 5 years There is no cost for amateur operators to reconfirm ongoing use of their 2-letter, 3-letter and F-series call signs. 

We encourage amateur operators to log into ACMA Assist to reconfirm their call sign, or apply to transfer or reassign call signs.

Update to the amateur operating procedures

Following feedback, we have made a minor change to the Amateur radio operating procedures to clarify that communications established with another station is also referred to as a ‘series of transmissions’.