Regional commercial radio online lodgement system

Quick guide—Submitting your Local Content Statement Summary

Overview of steps

  1. Log in to the ACMA Online Lodgement System.
  2. You will be directed to the Homepage.
  3. Select the Annual Declaration Form.
  4. Complete the Welcome and Cover Sheet sections.
  5. Complete the Licence Details section.
  6. Upload any relevant documents.
  7. Save versions of the form to use later.
  8. Click ‘Submit’ when ready to submit form.

Start

  1. Log into the ACMA’s online lodgement system.
  2. You will be directed to the Homepage pictured below.
  3. Select the Annual Declaration – Compliance with Material of Local Significance (Local Content) Requirements formfrom the ‘Regional Radio Forms’ section.

  1. Once the form has been selected, you will be taken to the ‘Welcome’ page of the form. Here you are provided with additional information about completing the form. You are also asked to accept a declaration about the accuracy of the information you will provide.
  2. If you are willing to make the declaration, click the check-box and then click the ‘Next’ button.


  1. You will be taken to the ‘Cover Sheet’ of the form.

  1. Click the ‘Next’ button.

  1. You will be taken to the ‘Licence Details’ section of the form. Enter the relevant Licence Details and compliance information.

  1. The Local Content Statement Summary section will appear.

  1. Complete the ‘Duration’ fields in the Local Content Statement Summary section. These fields are asking you to indicate thetotal dailyduration (in hours and minutes) of the local content you broadcast between 5am and 8pm on the business days during the reporting week specified in the ACMA’s annual compliance reminder letter (i.e.Sunday 25 May to Saturday 31 May 2014).
  1. Complete the ‘Content Breakdown’table in the Local Content Statement Summary section. To complete this table choose one business day from the reporting week specified in the ACMA’s annual compliance reminder letter (i.e. Sunday 25 May to Saturday 31 May 2014) and select the category of 'material of local significance' which most accurately applies to the content broadcast during each of the four time period blocks specified. More than one category can be selected for a time period. The fouroptions are:

1Hosted In

2Relates to

3Produced In

4 Direct & substantial relation

Note: A fifth option – ‘Not indicated’– is included in the table. This should only be used if no material of local significance is broadcast during the timeslot.

Further information and examplesabout which category(s) of ‘material of local significance’ may be applicable are available at Attachment A.


  1. Once you are happy with the information you have entered, click the ‘Next’ button.
  1. You will be taken to the ‘Upload Attachments’ section of the form. You do not need to upload an attachment to submit the form. However, you may choose to do so if you want to include additional information.
  1. Once you have finished uploading your attachments (if any), click the ‘Next’ button.
  1. You will be taken to the ‘Finish’ section of the form.
  1. Change the selection under the ‘Save your answers to reuse later’ heading to ‘Yes’. This will ensure you have can re-use your answers in the future.
  1. The system will auto-populate generic labels for your saved answer files. To make it easier for you to find your files, it is suggested that you change the auto-populated file names to names that will help you identify the information for reuse later e.g. include the relevant licence area name and licence number.
  1. Once you are ready to submit your form, click ‘Submit’.
  1. The system will acknowledge receipt of your form
Broadcasting Standards Phone (02) 9334 7700 | Email: July 2014 / 1

ATTACHMENT A

NOTE! The guidance below is provided to assist regional commercial radio broadcasting licensees in submitting reports related to their local content obligations. It is not intended as legal advice nor does it indicate how the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) may consider any individual claim made by a licensee.

Which category(s) of ‘material of local significance’ is applicable?

Category / When to use / Example
Hosted In / USE IF: Each announcer of the material is in the licence area when the material is broadcast. / A breakfast drive program broadcast ‘live’with the announcer of the program in a studio in the licence area
Relates to / USE IF: The content of the material covers one or more of the following types of contentas they affect the licence area:
  • an economic issue
  • a government or political issue
  • a social issue
  • education issue
  • a health issue
  • an employment issue
  • a cultural interest, or an issue relating to culture
  • an event in the licence area, including an event that has not yet occurred
  • a person or organisation associated with the licence area
  • the views of a person or organisation associated with the licence area
  • weather conditions in the licence area
  • the natural or built environment in the licence area
  • a body, operating in the licence area, that deals with community, welfare, religious, educational or other community service
  • an emergency warning broadcast at the request of an emergency service agency.
/ A re-broadcast of an interview with local sporting identity which was hosted and produced outside the licence area
Produced In / USE IF: Staff in the licence area direct the creative and administrative aspects of the production of the materialor if two or more of the following activities related to the material occurred in the licence area – the compilation; developing and implementing of programming concepts;editing; researching; scripting; technical operation or any other activity relating to the creative and administrative aspects of the production of the material. / A unique music program is compiled in the licence area in response to requests from listeners in the licence area
Direct & substantial relation / USE IF: The material does not fall into one of the categories above but a direct and substantial relationship exists between the material and the licence area. / A syndicated program hosted and produced outside the licence area covering issues from a national perspective (i.e. not as they relate to the licence area) is co-mingled with local content e.g. news, weather, community service announcements, station identifiers, advertising, locally themed promotions or other general local orientated subject matter.
If the ‘local content’ is ‘so significant’ to the overall sound and presentation of the program thenthe whole program may be considered to have a direct and substantial relationship to the licence area. Otherwise, the local inserts, at least, would be likely to have a direct and substantial relationship to the licence area.
Not indicated / USE IF: If no material of local significance was broadcast during the relevant time period i.e. if you do not broadcast material that is ‘hosted in, ‘relates to’, is ‘produced in’ or has a ‘direct and substantial relationship to’ the licence area during that timeslot / N/A

What category should I choose if I broadcast a combination of local and non-local content during a time period?

You should still indicate the category of 'material of local significance' which most accurately applies to any local content broadcast during that time period e.g. if between 5.00am and 9.00am you broadcast 2 hours of material produced in the licence area and 2 hours of syndicated content, select ‘3 Produced In’ for that time period. Also see the comments about material which has a ‘direct and substantial relationship’ above.

What category should I choose if my local content programming begins part-way through a time period?

You should still indicate the category of 'material of local significance' which most accurately applies to any local content broadcast during that time period e.g. you have a locally hosted and produced evening ‘drive’ program which runs from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, select ‘1 Hosted In’ and ‘3 Produced In’ for the 1600 – 2000’.

Broadcasting Standards Phone (02) 9334 7700 | Email: July 2014 / 1