[cma-l] Open letter from the CMA to Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport

[Bill Best]

Hi

Thanks for your email, Ian, and your advice.

Jaqui's in London today meeting with Ian Stewart MP, Chair of the All
Party Community Media Group - so I'll reply on her behalf.

I'm sure that Ben Bradshaw will have already been apprised of the
situation in London with regard to the scarcity of radio frequencies
for both commercial and community broadcasting.

The CMA's open letter was one of welcome to the new Minister - rest
assured that we'll be getting down to brass tacks with him as soon as
possible.

Keep subscribed to this list, please keep checking the website, and
occasionally take a peak at the Twitter feed for updates on this and
other matters.

With best regards

Bill
-- 
Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media

Canstream Online Multi-Media Solutions
http://www.canstream.co.uk/

2009/6/9 Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>:
> A good move Jacqui, but such a pity you didn't point out the current
> situation where the largest concentration of communities in the UK with
> possibly the widest range of interests and needs now finds that its
> prospect of further Community Radio stations is virtually zero.
> I refer of course to approximately 12 million people - about one fifth
> of the UK population - who live within the M25.
> Ian Hickling
> Partner
> transplan UK
>
>  > From: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>  > Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 20:19:23 +0100
>  > To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>  > Subject: [cma-l] Open letter from the CMA to Ben Bradshaw, Secretary
> of State for Culture, Media & Sport
>  >
>  > Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP
>  > Secretary of State
>  > Department for Culture, Media & Sport
>  > 2 – 4 Cockspur Street
>  > London
>  > SW1Y 5DH
>  >
>  > Community radio & the wider community media sector
>  >
>  > Dear Ben Bradshaw
>  >
>  > I am writing to welcome you to your new post as Secretary of State for
>  > Culture, Media & Sport.
>  >
>  > The Community Media Association is the umbrella body representing
>  > community radio and the wider community media sector. Community radio
>  > in particular is one of the government’s real success stories, going
>  > from 15 stations in 2001 to the current number of 201 licensed
>  > stations, which is likely to rise to 300 by the end of next year. It
>  > is the true “third tier” of radio, serving some of the most
>  > disadvantaged and marginalised communities throughout the UK.
>  >
>  > The CMA is also involved in urging the government to enable the
>  > development of local television in the UK, through United for Local
>  > Television, which would create many jobs in both the creative
>  > industries and local journalism sectors.
>  >
>  > Your colleagues at DCMS already have a wealth of information from the
>  > CMA both on the future of the radio sector and local TV. I would
>  > though welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the future
>  > of community media in the UK, particularly in the light of the recent
>  > resolution by Europe’s Council of Ministers supporting the development
>  > and expansion of community media across Europe, signed by the UK
>  > government.
>  >
>  > I look forward to hearing from you and wish you well in your new post.
>  >
>  > Yours sincerely
>  >
>  > Jaqui Devereux
>  > Director, Community Media Association