Communications Law

Subject LAWS70182 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

August, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge:

Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Principal topics will include:

  • What is communications law? (including different regulatory approaches)
  • Regulation of communications services, including radio and television services
  • Australian content rules
  • Control and ownership of broadcasting and communications enterprises
  • Digital broadcasting law and regulation
  • Pay TV and the anti-siphoning regime
  • Competition in telecommunications (including regulation of anti-competitive practices, NBNCo and the structural separation of Telstra)
  • Interconnection law and policy
  • Spectrum allocation (including licensing and spectrum auctions)
  • Consumer protection issues
  • Regulation of internet content and filtering
  • Multi-channelling of free-to-air TV services
  • Regulation of new services and technologies, including convergence of media and Digital Rights Management (DRM) issues.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should have:

  • A detailed understanding of important current legal and policy issues affecting the communications sector, including digital broadcasting, pay TV, internet regulation, convergence and mobile communications
  • A critical awareness of the Australian approach to broadcasting, spectrum and telecommunications regulation, including regulatory arrangements involving the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
  • Well-developed techniques for evaluating Australian communications law from international and comparative perspectives on media regulation and free speech
  • A familiarity with legal issues concerning new and emerging services, including future developments in digital broadcasting, internet regulation and next-generation networks (NGNs).
Assessment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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