[cma-l] Ofcom consults on new short-term licences for small-scale digital radio trials

[CMA-L]

Last week Ofcom held a technical demonstration of small-scale low-cost DAB
at its facility at Baldock, Herts. The presentation slides from the day may
be viewed online here:

http://www.slideshare.net/CMA_Slides/ss-dab-technical-seminar-baldock-nov-2014

Ofcom has published a consultation seeking views on the approach to issuing
new short-term licences to support small-scale digital radio trials being
run next year. Ofcom invites written comments on the questions raised in
this consultation, to be submitted to Ofcom by *5pm on 10 December 2014*.
Ofcom strongly prefers to receive responses in electronic format.

This consultation focuses on the conditions and award processes for trial
Wireless Telegraphy Act licences needed to test small-scale DAB multiplexes
in three locations. If successful, this new technology could allow smaller
radio stations to broadcast on digital *at a lower cost*.

This technology was first trialled in the UK by an Ofcom engineer in
Brighton between September 2012 and January 2013. This experimental DAB
multiplex showed it could be feasible to deliver infrastructure capable of
supporting digital radio transmission at a lower cost than the current
systems used.

These trials will help inform a wider programme of work Ofcom is
undertaking on the possibilities for enabling smaller radio services to
broadcast on digital radio.

The consultation document can be viewed on Ofcom’s website (
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/small-scale-dab/). The
consultation sets out Ofcom’s proposals for licensing a number of
short-term trial small scale DAB multiplexes.

Ofcom intends to hold another event during the consultation period in
London which will address the work on small-scale DAB more widely. Details
will be announced soon.
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Community Media Association
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Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/canstream
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