[cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law
Tony Bailey
studio at ravensoundradio.co.uk
Sun Oct 16 12:51:20 BST 2011
Good Day all,
As this topic is somewhat ongoing, I thought I would have a rummage
through some of the old paperwork. Not to say this hasn't been
superseded, but it might shed some light on the subject:
The following from Ofcom "Licensing Community Radio" 02 Aug 2004:
Section 5 Policy on allocation of spectrum and coverage areas.
Coverage areas
14 In the consultation we proposed that:
Community radio stations on FM in urban areas will generally be licensed
for a coverage radius of up to 5km.
For urban "community of interest" services, where the target community
occupies an area of more than 5km radius, only AM frequencies will be
allocated.
In rural areas where there is greater availability of suitable FM
frequencies (such as parts of Scotland and Wales) and a coverage radius
of more than 5km is proposed (because of the dispersed population, for
example), we may license such services on FM.
In rural areas where the availability of suitable FM frequencies is poor
and a coverage radius of more than 5km is proposed, only AM frequencies
will be allocated.
15
There was broad agreement that a 5km radius was appropriate for most
community radio services. However, some potential applicants urged
Ofcom to consider, on a case by case basis, licensing services with
larger areas on FM in rural locations, or that we consider allowing a
service to broadcast on more than one transmitter, if appropriate.
Notably, the latter argument was put forward by a number of respondents
in South Wales. Some potential applicants for community of interest
services argued that, on a case by case basis, we should consider
agreeing to coverage over a larger area than a 5km radius for them too.
16
In the proposals outlined in the consultation we did not rule out
coverage areas larger than 10km across, but this will be the exception
rather than the rule. The linmited availability of suitable FM spectrum
in most areas will preclude consideration of service areas greater than
this. We shall consider, on a case by case basis, whether licensing a
service on more than one transmitter might provide better coverage of
the target community, for example, if the terrain presents difficulties.
However, this will only be the case where there is sufficient
frequency availability, and this approach is deemed to be the most
technically efficient.
17
The Research that Ofcom Commissioned into four of the pilot services
showed that a service aimed at a community of interest can be very
successful in attracting an audience (the elderly in Havant and
Glaswegian Asians in the case of the two services researched). Some
people from the target community who live outside the coverage area of
these services would like to see the station coverage increased.
However, in most areas we will not have the FM spectrum available to
facilitate this.
18
In conclusion, we intend to maintain the policy put forward in our
consultation document (and set out in paragraph 14 above). In addition
we may consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether to license a service
utilising more than one transmitter, if this is a technically efficient
way to serve the target community.
Regards, Tony Bailey
Ian Hickling wrote:
>
> Sorry - the "restriction" is not abritrary.
> Unless you can of course show me where it is enshrined in Law, conveyed
> by Ofcom in writing, or expressed as such by Ofcom to any Applicant or
> Licensee.
> I've never seen any of these instances, but I'm happy to be corrected.
>
> In technical terms of course, you can't stop radio signals from
> travelling more than any specified distance.
> The way is could be expressed - but isn't - is by saying that there must
> be no signal at a specific strength receivable under specific conditions
> at any point further than 5km from the transmitter.
> Again, I have never seen this stipulated by Ofcom nor by the Radio
> Authority in 15 years as a general restriction - only in very specific
> cases where a licensee is required to protect the MCA of an existing
> broadcaster.
>
> Please - let's deal in hard facts - not in conjecture or hearsay.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> *Ian Hickling
> **Partner*
>
> *transplan UK
> *
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:35:27 +0100
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to
> community radio law
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Gary Jackson <gary.jackson at skylinegold.co.uk
> <mailto:gary.jackson at skylinegold.co.uk>>
> To: CMA-L <cma-l at commedia.org.uk <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>>
> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:17:23 +0100
>
> On 14/10/2011 15:34, Alan Coote wrote:
>
> Hi Ian et al,
>
> /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. /
> My direct experience is that this simply not true!
>
> Ofcom hide behind what they have called a ‘Policy’ to limit CR to
> 25 Watts ERP. The restriction is real and affects many stations
> outside of remote parts of Wales and Scotland. There are 21 stations
> which have great than 25W ERP.
>
> For the rest of us, the 5km limit is arbitrary and a nonsense. It
> should be removed.
>
> ++
>
> Our experience is the same as Alan's. We had two people living well
> within the 5km radius. Both wrote to support our application to Ofcom to
> increase our signal because neither could receive us.
>
> Our application was turned down flat
>
> Gary
>
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