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

[Ian Hickling]

Clive
At the risk of being guilty of perpetual repetition, can I take you up on one point:
 
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!

There never has been that hypothetical 50W/5km restriction.
It's a guideline.
 
It has always been the situation that ".......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 ......
It's a distinct section of the Application document.
 
In simple terms, Ofcom says "Tell us the Community you wish to cover - and how you propose doing it.
If you look on Ofcom's published "TX Params", you'll see the stations that have asked for and got much higher powers and sites.

------------------------------------
Ian Hickling
Partner
transplan UK
 


> From: clive.glover at lineone.net
> Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:19:54 +0100
> To: jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk
> CC: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law
> 
> 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
> > http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> > 
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