Radio Spectrum Licence Fees for Microwave Links
- Jonathan Brewer
Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) charges for radio licences in microwave linking bands on a cost recovery basis. Annual fees are $150 NZD + GST per transmitter, so a point-to-point link will cost $300 +GST per annum.
RSM invoices licences on an annual basis, and every user account has an “anniversary month” when all of their licence fees renew at the same time. Anniversary months are established when an RSM account is created, in general for the month preceding account creation. RSM’s own documentation on payments is available on their website, but it doesn’t explain the concept of anniversary month very well.
When a new licence is issued, charges are pro-rated from the time the licence is established until the anniversary month. That means almost every new licence costs less than $300 + GST. It also means a renewal notice with a $300 + GST charge will come in less than a year. This is normal, expected behaviour.
