[cma-l] Ofcom breaches - lessons for all stations

[Office - ccr-fm]

This is interesting ... ?             to cut a long story short, if Ofcom
turned up here in the next five minutes there is no guarantee that we could
get into our broadcast tower due to the Fort Knox security ....... this of
course isn't a bad thing, because it wouldn't be the first time that a
pirate station hasn't broken in, knicked the equipment, driven down the M6
and M1 and then started broadcasting out of the back of a tranny van ....
a bigger headache to all concerned as opposed to someone going off air.

 

If we go off air, which we have done the odd time due to computer crashes
(hour here a few minutes there)         who do we damage ?        NOT Ofcom,
not the DCMS, not the Commercial Station down the road, not really the
licence etc       but ourselves             we've already been punished ?!

 

It is another one of those rules that I simply don't get ?>????
have I missed something ?

 

We have to find the concierge, check the codes, go through two doors, then
collect the keys to the tower from the Chairman of the Residents committee
.... he ain't always around.

We have explained the situation on many occasions and we can't change
things.

 

If Ofcom turned up, we may get in in ten minutes ... then again, it could be
two to three hours.

 

We are after all a Community broadcaster ... although we try to be
professional we are always going to be a bit rag tag and bobtail.

 

Regards

 

Nick

 

 

  _____  

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Martin Steers
Sent: 03 August 2011 16:58
To: cma-l
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom breaches - lessons for all stations

 

Hiya all,

 

Its certainly an interesting thing, and correct me if I am wrong but I think
this is the first time a community station has been sanctioned.

 

Full details are here:  <http://goo.gl/NdBqw> http://goo.gl/NdBqw

 

Its for them failing to broadcast in december last year, and their level of
cooperation with ofcom over the issue.

 

No doubt this will create alot of discussion on and off this list which is
very healthy for the sector.

 

The biggest issue seemed to be the access to their transmission setup, there
is a lesson there for all stations. 

You need to check how quickly can you get access to your transmission
equipment if there was a problem? and do you have backup plans in case of
failure of transmission kit or studio (or the link between). 

 

But also as ever, if your having problems that are going to effect your KC
then make sure Ofcom are the first to know and not the last.. 

 

 

Martin

 

 

On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 4:11 PM, Jaqui Devereux
<jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk> wrote:

Dear all

You may be aware of the latest Ofcom sanctions levied against a
community radio station for an apparent failure to broadcast.  in the
event it would appear that access to the transmission system failed
and that led to the breach.

Once again we would remind everyone to assume that all the worst
things that could happen will happen and have your backup plans in
place!

Also, as your representative body we are always happy to try to help
if you have a problem, please do contact us,

Best wishes

Jaqui

--
Jaqui Devereux
Director, Community Media Association
Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk

t: 0114 279 5219

Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/

http://twitter.com/community_media
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
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