[cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law

[Clive Glover]

Jaqui

Obviously the rules limiting or prohibiting advertising on some stations should be removed. They were intended to limit competition for local commercial stations and I doubt this Government would want to be seen to be limiting competition!

The rules preventing CR stations being licenced in areas where there are existing commercial stations (but not the other way round) are inequitable and should be removed.

The 50% commercial income rule causes us no problems, nor many other stations and has the advantage of showing a clear distinction between commercial and community stations. The ability to offset real commercial income against a notional value for volunteer time means that this should not create problems for the majority of CR stations, although I accept it may for a few.

The restrictions on transmitter power to 50 watts and the "5km" radius for CR stations are unnecessarily restrictive. Stations should be able to make the case for covering a defined local community area and the transmitter power to do this should be agreed as a technical/engineering matter with OFCOM engineers. However, defining the whole of London or Manchester etc as your community would be taking it too far!

Hope this helps!

regards,

Clive
On 13 Oct 2011, at 13:51, Jaqui Devereux wrote:

> Dear all
> 
> The DCMS will be co-hosting a couple of meetings with us, probably in
> the New Year, to discuss possible amendments to the law on community
> radio, as part of the new Communications Bill.
> 
> We are writing to ask your views on what the agenda should cover - we
> do have quite a few ideas on what you might want but would prefer you
> to tell us!
> 
> Almost certainly community radio advertising rules (all of them) will
> be on the agenda, but what other subjects would you like on it?
> 
> Please do let us know,
> 
> 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
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