The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is planning to totally transform spectrum management in Australia.

According to Giles Tanner, general manager of ACMA's inputs to industry division, part of that transformation is its annual conference on the management of radio frequency spectrum, Radcomms08.

Tanner announced today the event will be held in Melbourne from April 30 to May 2, 2008.

He said highlights will include discussion of an independent report that reviews government spectrum holdings in Australia.

ACMA is planning to release the report in April in preparation for the conference.

It will be a draft of its firm spectrum demand analysis and work program entitled Five-year Spectrum Outlook.

Stakeholders will have an opportunity to discuss the report and provide feedback at the conference.

Other topics to be covered include radio and TV digitisation and proposals to replan the 400 MHz land mobile bands to alleviate spectrum shortages experienced by these services in capital cities.

"More generally, ACMA wants to strike a balance between government and industry perspectives, with the hope that industry will tell us rather than the other way around," Tanner said.

"The three day conference will present an opportunity for the exchange of ideas with radiocommunications professionals from across industry and government.

"Speakers from both sides will cover a wide range of contemporary issues."

The ACMA is planning to host a panel session to encourage open discussion on emerging spectrum issues.

The first RadComms conference was held in December, 2006.

Plans are underway for the ACMA to launch the first draft of its Five year Spectrum Outlook which will be updated annually.