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

Tue Oct 18 10:11:05 BST 2011

I've replied to Alan privately because some of my comments are not for publication owing to their being of a confidential nature.
All I will say in public is - Note the careful use of the words "usual" and "general". 

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

From: alan.coote at btinternet.com
To: ian at transplan.uk.com; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:17:29 +0100
Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law

Hi Ian, Jaqui et al,

Here’s my evidence that Ofcom are not willing to help CR stations cover their intended area. 

It clearly state a ‘general policy’ with respect to output power and multi frequency. 

The response below was received following the submission of an Arqiva researched report into covering our existing designated area. Needless to say we were not impressed, given that the technical report was comprehensive and evidenced. 

FYI The Bay 102.8 TX is located on the highest building (30m AGL) on the highest hill (62m ASL) in the centre of our area – there is no better site! 

Yet - Read for yourself…

“Dear Alan,

I am writing with regard to your request of 11 November, acknowledged on 17 November. [2010 – this shows how long we had this issue]  

The contents of your report are noted.  You asked us to consider increasing your transmitter power to 100 Watts e.r.p., and for an additional frequency for a “fill-in” transmitter.  These requests have now been considered and I am sorry, but we are not able to agree to either of them.  

The usual maximum effective radiated power (e.r.p.) for community radio services is 25 Watts in the vertical plane with an additional 25 Watts in the horizontal plane, if required.  Your request for a power increase to 100 Watts e.r.p. is outside this general policy, and for that reason we are not able to agree to it.

With regard to a second frequency, as stated below, our general policy with regards to FM frequencies for community radio services is that we will allocate one frequency per service, and we are therefore not able to agree to your request for an additional frequency for your service.  

Regards,

:: Soo Williams
Manager, Community Radio and RSLs
Direct line: 020 7783 4319
susan.williams at ofcom.org.uk

:: Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA
020 7981 3000
www.ofcom.org.uk
“ 

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ian Hickling
Sent: 15 October 2011 10:22 AM
To: cma-l
Subject: [cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law

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>
To: CMA-L <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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