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

Wed Aug 3 19:16:01 BST 2011

Nick,

I dont think the issue was a matter of hours it was more that "The Licensee
reiterated the difficulties in getting access to the site; the Licensee was
unable to visit at their “whims and caprices” and was not able to gain
access unless they are accompanied by an official from the council. Gaining
access involved persistent phone calls to the council and could sometimes
take up to two weeks" now if there was a problem with your transmitter (not
working, on wrong frq, too much power?) it shouldnt take ages to get access
to your equipment, that you have a duty of access under the ofcom technical
code.

Also going off air for the odd hour wont kill anyone (although I would
recommend a silent backup system), and if you let Ofcom know then even
better, but this station was off air for days / weeks (Its not very clear)
and then they werent completely honest with Ofcom about it..

Ofcom has a duty and right to protect the audience if a station is not
meeting their key commitments, also it has a protect the community interest
factor if other stations bid for the license and didnt get it and then the
station that did fails.. hows that going to look on Ofcom, DCMS or even all
community stations?

M

On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 7:01 PM, Office - ccr-fm <office at ccr-fm.co.uk> wrote:

>  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****
>
> ** **
>
> 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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