[cma-l] DCMS Consultation on Community Radio

[Jaqui Devereux]

Dear all

The DCMS has today published its Consultation on Community Radio, link 
below:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Consultations/2008_current_consultations/consultation_community_radio.htm

The purpose of the consultation is to put forward DCMS's responses to 
Ofcom's recent review of community radio and to consult on the Community 
Radio Fund - unfortunately not with a view to raising the amount in the 
fund, though you might wish in your responses to make the point that 
£500,000 will not go very far when there are 200+ licensed stations!

The CMA will be pushing hard over the next two years to persuade the 
government that the Community Radio Fund needs to be substantially 
increased in the next Comprehensive Spending Review - indeed our vision 
is for a multi-million pound Community Media Fund!  We will also work 
with other parties to try to persuade them also of the value created by 
community radio and the need to increase the fund should they come to power.

The consultation also raises the possibility of using a small part of 
the fund for some of the work of the CMA.

Below is the link to the CMA Outline Workplan for the next three years, 
which illustrates what the CMA intends to do for the sector over that 
period.  The workplan includes substantial work on the future of FM, 
digital radio and migration issues, re-licensing and further licensing 
rounds, assisting licensed stations wishing to include volunteer time as 
part of their income mix and general advocacy and representation for the 
sector nationally and across government departments and regional 
working.  It is this work that the DCMS is seeking to fund.

http://www.commedia.org.uk/

The reality is that without some core funding from DCMS it is likely 
that the CMA might have to close entirely, so we hope that you will feel 
able to support this proposal in the consultation.

We would welcome your views on any or all of the above and on our 
Workplan.  Responses to the consultation need to be with DCMS by 6th 
June, please copy us in if you feel able to.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Jaqui

-- 
Jaqui Devereux

Director
Community Media Association

15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S1 2BX

+44 114 279 5219


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