[cma-l] Call for evidence - H of Lords on radio "switchover"

[Jaqui Devereux]

Dear all

Please find below a call for evidence for the House of Lords 
Communications Committee.  They are asking for evidence on the Digital 
Switchover process for TV but also re any potential arrangements for 
switchover for radio.

Please note - there is NO plan currently to switch off FM, as is made 
clear in the Digital Economy Bill currently going through the Lords.

Worth though you putting in your views on the future of FM and the need 
for clarity and a "road map" for community radio following the migration 
of the national and large regional radio players to digital radio, 
whenever that might be.  The deadline for submissions is 1st February.

Best wishes

Jaqui

SELECT COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS

CALL FOR EVIDENCE

Digital switchover of television and radio

The House of Lords Select Committee on Communications is announcing 
today a short inquiry into the progress of, and prospects for, digital 
switchover of both television and radio in the United Kingdom.

The Digital Switchover Programme will replace the UK’s existing analogue 
television network with a fully digital television network, region by 
region, between 2008 and 2012.  As the programme reaches its half way 
point, the inquiry will make a brief interim assessment of:

•	the strengths and weaknesses of the switchover process as they have 
emerged in the regions which have already switched over;

•	the effectiveness of the Digital Switchover Help Scheme and the public 
communications campaign.

The Digital Switchover Programme applies only to television.  The 
arrangements for radio are still being developed.  The Government does 
not yet have a timetable, though it has said that the switchover date 
will be announced two years in advance.  The inquiry will consider the 
issues to be resolved, including:

•	the current state of the Government’s plans for switchover to digital 
radio;

•	the outstanding technical issues, including the appropriateness of DAB 
as the digital radio standard;

•	the views of UK broadcasters, consumers, and radio interest groups.


The Committee would welcome written evidence on any of these issues.


8 January 2010



GUIDANCE FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WRITTEN EVIDENCE

Submissions should be sent to:

Ralph Publicover
Select Committee on Communications
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW

Tel 020 7219 8662
Fax 020 7219 4931

and preferably also as an email attachment to: 
holcommunications at parliament.uk

The deadline for submitting written evidence is 1 February 2010.

Please ensure that you include relevant contact details. Evidence should 
be attributed and dated, with a note of your name and position, and 
should state whether it is submitted on an individual or corporate basis.

Short submissions of 6 pages or fewer are preferred; longer submissions 
should include a summary. Evidence sent as hard copy should be clearly 
printed or typed on single sides of A4 paper, unstapled.  Paragraphs 
should be numbered.  If drawings or charts are included, we ask that 
these are black-and-white and of camera-ready quality.

Evidence becomes the property of the Committee, and may be printed or 
circulated by the Committee. You may publish your evidence yourself, but 
in doing so you should indicate that it was prepared for the Committee. 
The Committee may invite some of those who submit written evidence to 
give oral evidence, usually in public at Westminster. Transcripts will 
be published.

You can follow the inquiry via the Committee web pages, accessed from
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/communications.cfm

This is a public call for evidence. Please bring it to the attention of 
other groups and individuals who may not have received a copy direct.


-- 
Jaqui Devereux

Director
Community Media Association

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+44 114 279 5219

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