[cma-l] Fwd: Community Radio Station update - March 2011

[CMA-L]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elaine Woolford <Elaine.Woolford at ofcom.org.uk>

 To: Community Radio operators



We are contacting all community radio stations regarding the updating our
station contact information and to circulate some general licence
information. Please see below.



*Contact details *

Ofcom’s licensing, engineering and finance teams need to have the correct
contact details for all community radio stations. To ensure that we have up
to date information for all stations, please provide the following:



*Licence Number: *

*Station Name: *

*Licensee (i.e. company which holds the licence):*

*Main station contact:*

*Position:*

*Admin address:*

*Public address (if different):*

*Telephone:*

*Mobile/Emergency Number:*

*Public Email:*

*Other Email:*

*Web address:*

*Alternative contact details:*



Please inform us of any changes in contact details, (named contacts,
telephone numbers, email, website and postal addresses), as well as to the
company directors as they happen. Notification can be made by email in the
first instance: community.radio at ofcom.org.uk



Also, for those stations already broadcasting, please check the public
details on Ofcom’s website are correct. You can access these by clicking on
the station’s name in the list at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/Community/community-main.htmland
let us know if any changes are required.




*Broadcast Service*

Providing the licensed service is a fundamental function of a community
radio service and failure to do so may be a significant breach of the
licence.   Therefore Licensees should contact Ofcom if they foresee or are
experiencing any problems, such as technical issues, building works or
studio moves that may affect their ability to provide their broadcast
service.  There may be other factors or  issues that arise that may lead to
the broadcast service being adversely affected too.  Please get in touch if
this is the case.





*Key commitments*

If you feel that aspects of your station’s key commitments are no longer fit
for purpose, or circumstances have changed leaving some key commitments no
longer relevant, we would strongly recommend that you and team consider
whether it would be appropriate to request a change to the station’s key
commitments. Guidance on the process can be found at
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/kc-changes-guidance.pdf





*Broadcasting Code update *

Ofcom’s new Broadcasting Code took effect from 28 February 2011. It sets
rules for TV and radio broadcasts, and replaces the previous version. The
full Broadcasting Code can be found here:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/<http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bbcode2011>

The Guidance Notes can be found here:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/programme-guidance/bguidance/



Stations should familiarise themselves with this version, including the new
Section 10 which refers to commercial references in radio programming:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/commercial-references-radio/

The related guidance notes can be found at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/guidance/831193/section10.pdf



The Broadcasting Code also contains rules which apply during election and
referendum periods. We have had a number of queries about the rules that
apply at these times. During election periods special impartiality rules
apply and they are set out in Section Six of the Code:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/elections/

The relevant Guidance Notes are at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/guidance/831193/section6.pdf.
We attach an article produced last year about election broadcasts, for
information.



At ALL times there are rules which apply to broadcasters concerning ‘due
impartiality’ and ‘due accuracy’ and ‘undue prominence of views and opinions
on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to
current public policy’. These rules are included in Section Five of the
Broadcasting Code:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/impartiality/

The Section Five guidance notes are at:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/guidance/831193/section5.pdf





We hope this is helpful.



Regards



Community Radio Team

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