[cma-l] Feedback from Ofcom meeting

[Phil Gibbons]

Last week CMA chair, Dom Chambers, Bill Best and myself attended one
of our regular meetings with Ofcom in London. This was an opportunity
for both sides to discus major issues within the Community Radio
sector and to keep up-to-date with consultations, licencing and
developments within the sector.
This meeting was very productive with some important items being
raised. As a members led organisation, it is important that all
members have a chance to feed into these meetings and from now on, the
CMA Council will provide feedback from these meetings:

DCMS legislation timescale:
There have been lots of responses to the consultation but no schedule
for legislation has been given as yet by DCMS. There is wide
recognition that the legislation is needed by the end of the year and
hopefully at some point in the autumn.

Licence renewal:
This forms part of the consultation and DCMS have been made aware of
the urgency for some stations reaching their second renewal period.

What is planned for the low cost DAB meeting to be held at Ofcom in June?
This is now planned for 2 June at Ofcom - details to follow.

Can we have an update on Region #5 C/R licence applications. Next
licence announcements. Update on Region #7 C/R licence applications
currently open and closes on 24/06/14. How is uptake, any issues?
Take up for #5 is good but #7 is not known yet. These are on-track for
allocation within the published timetable – 24 June 2014 for area 7

RSLs. Why does the license period for RSLs have to be midnight to
midnight? Why can they not be a 24 period. Eg A weekend RSL could be
Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon (2 day RSL if in 24 blocks,
opposed to 3 days under the current system). This change could
represent valuable cost savings.
Ofcom licencing will look into this and if possible will consider
changing the rules.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5 September at Ofcom, London, so if
you have anything that you think should be on the agenda please let
CMA Chair Dom Chambers know.
chair at commedia.org.uk

Phil Gibbons