[cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law
Ian Hickling
transplanfm at hotmail.com
Tue Oct 18 14:55:11 BST 2011
This bit:
Applicants are advised to secure professional advice on the coverage
which their proposals are likely to achieve, including an interpretation
of what robustness of reception is implied by a given level of coverage.
Proposals should be broadly in accordance with the above guidance,
although applicants may of course make comments on issues which arise
from coverage predictions, in relation to their particular objectives.
says it all!
Strange as it may seem - it does help if you read the rules and the notes beforehand!
------------------------------------
Ian Hickling
Partner
transplan UK
> Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:42:33 +0100
> From: studio at ravensoundradio.co.uk
> To: alan.coote at btinternet.com
> CC: ian at transplan.uk.com; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS consultation meetings on amendments to community radio law
>
> Another rummage through cobweb corner:
>
> The original Notes of Guidance issued by Ofcom. Although these refer to
> the 5 km radius, which stems from "Licensing Community Radio" 2 Aug
> 2004; Section 5 Policy on allocation of spectrum and coverage areas, it
> also refers to commercial radio coverage. I think the criteria were
> altered subsequently to account for higher levels of interference
> expected in CR areas.
>
> It seems likely that an increased height site might actually require a
> reduction in ERP!
>
> It also appears that AM powers above 70 watts have been authorised
> although this may be due to high attenuation in built-up areas.
>
> Part 4: Engineering
>
> Coverage areas and power levels
>
> 4.1 On FM, community radio stations are expected to cover areas of
> typically up to 5 kms in radius, although terrain, site choice and other
> local factors may well cause unacceptably low signal levels in some
> locations within that area. Over more hilly terrain, AM frequencies may
> provide more dependable signals and for these, daytime coverage of
> slightly larger areas may be acceptable. For both FM and AM, Ofcom's
> standard criteria for the definition of commercial radio 'coverage' will
> apply. These are currentl those previously applied by The Radio
> Authority, which are not expected to change significantly in the
> immediate future.
>
> 4.2 On FM, a typical maximum effective radiated power (e.r.p.) of 25
> Watts will be allowed in the vertical plane. This may be supplemented by
> up to an additional 25 Watts in the horizontal plane, if required by the
> applicant and local circumstances permitting. The actual power level
> required to meet the 5 km coverage requirement will depend on aerial
> height. Because greater aerial height is generally the most effective
> approach to securing better coverage, a higher site will generally imply
> a lower e.r.p.
>
> FM services with a total e.r.p. of greater than 25 Watts (the sum of the
> vertical and horizontal components taken together), will require
> additional clearance procedures. Applicants should note that these
> procedures will add to the length of time to obtain frequency clearance.
> The exact maximum power levels of individual AM licences will also
> depend on the coverage limits and the frequency used, but 20 to 70 watts
> effective monopole radiated power (e.m.r.p.) would be a typical maximum
> power allowed.
>
> Applicants are advised to secure professional advice on the coverage
> which their proposals are likely to achieve, including an interpretation
> of what robustness of reception is implied by a given level of coverage.
> Proposals should be broadly in accordance with the above guidance,
> although applicants may of course make comments on issues which arise
> from coverage predictions, in relation to their particular objectives.
>
> Regards, Tony Bailey
>
>
>
> Alan Coote wrote:
> > 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*
> > <mailto:susan.williams at ofcom.org.uk>
> >
> >
> > *:: Ofcom** *Riverside House 2a Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HA
> > 020 7981 3000 *www.ofcom.org.uk* <http://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
> > <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
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________ Reply -
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>
>
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