[cma-l] Reminder of Ofcom's 14th February Local TV Deadline

[local.tv at virgin.net]

Dear All

Ofcom's deadline is 14th February to receive local and community TV
business plans, or at least evidence of fairly high level strategic
planning, for inclusion in interleaved spectrum packages. Contact for
more details:

carmel.McLaughlin at ofcom.org.uk

Those of us working on maintaining the opportunity for local TV would
hope this won't be your last opportunity to access digital spectrum,
and through ULTV, CMA, ILT, ACTO etc are working to improve Ofcom's
proposals for access made available for local and community TV to serve
as local public service broadcasting.

But...... as things stand, unless your service proposals are made
sufficient to convince Ofcom of viability, your needs will not be
reflected in the forthcoming 'spectrum packaging' consultation.

You might be able to your case for inclusion following this Spring in
the packaging consultation, or leave discussion of requirements till
the arrival of a band manager to look after spectrum leftovers. Acting
now to ensure your area's spectrum is included to suit you in the
consultation has the benefit of eighteen year licenses, the band
manager may not offer this security of tenure.

Ofcom has offered to try and bring smaller local TV demands together in
the coming period - to combine need of spectrum from the same mast.
They need to know the demand and in a worked out way - ask Ofcom for
guidelines if you've not been following the emails on this topic

This is not your last chance - and we are contesting the bids, the
spectrum access and the cart before horse timing - but there are just
ten days left to make your a case or risk the prospect of a fragmented
and less useful signal further on,or no signal at all. Making your case
does no harm than increase wrinkles and grey hair.

Ofcom will be assigning this interleaved spectrum this year and next -
regardless of the local DSO date for your area. And (at the moment) the
auction will - if there is demand - be tempered to address the
community and public emphasis in these local TV applications.

If you make no effort then there is every risk the optimum spectrum you
need will be sold to the highest bidder on terms that it is very
unlikely local TV will be able to meet.

If you have proposals in Scotland please contact me ASAP to discuss the
format and how Ofcom wants these to be processed in Scotland, but if
working in England, Wales NI contact the CMA.

To coin a phrase - be alert; be very alert!

With regards,

Dave Rushton
Institute of Local Television