[cma-l] Officialdom
Donald Mack
donald at donaldmack.co.uk
Tue Feb 17 14:48:02 GMT 2015
Hi All
As someone who worked for/with Ofcom on Licensing Community Radio stations I
could probably answer most, if not all, of your questions, including busting a
few myths.
Part of the problem in me doing this is that over the years the same questions
keep coming up, been answered and then come up again.
Like many others on here, I also work as a Consultant and would, where possible,
prefer to be paid for my work. That said, the information and experience that I
have is not secret. My credentials as a supporter of Community Radio (over 30
years) are impeccable and I will always try to help if I can.
What I will say is that people should try to stop viewing Ofcom as if it is
conspiring against you (station/group/region) personally. The Power to make
significant change lies within DCMS.
Kind regards
Donald McTernan
> On 05 February 2015 at 17:33 Two Lochs Radio <tlr at gairloch.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Did Ofcom actually refuse to reply in writing to the FOI request? If so, what
> were the formal grounds for refusal?
>
> I agree that the process and its criteria should be open, and it's hard to
> see convincing reasons for why it shouldn't be. They are guardians of a very
> scarce public property - FM spectrum, and should be using open and objective
> criteria to grant its use.
>
> Alex
>
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Alan Coote <mailto:alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk>
> > To: 'The Community Media Association Discussion List'
> > <mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2015 5:17 PM
> > Subject: Re: [cma-l] Officialdom
> >
> >
> > I asked Ofcom to explain their scoring process by way of a Freedom of
> > Information Request.
> >
> >
> >
> > This created quite a bit of excitement in Ofcom and many phone calls.
> > They were more than happy to talk over the phone but not answer in writing.
> >
> >
> >
> > I have long believed that the process is floored because it is not
> > repeatable. For example if you send in two averagely good and identical
> > applications they should arrive at the same result, but it’s difficult to
> > see how this is the case.
> >
> >
> >
> > It’s normal in government contracts to know the criteria and scoring
> > scheme prior to application. Without this Government would open themselves
> > up to litigation. Ofcom’s decision is final, there are no appeals and they
> > are not transparent.
> >
> >
> >
> > Most people, I think would find that undemocratic.
> >
> >
> >
> > Kind Regards
> >
> > Alan
> >
> >
> >
> > From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> > [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of David Duffy
> > Sent: 05 February 2015 16:07
> > To: Ian Hickling
> > Cc: The Community Media Association Discussion List
> > Subject: Re: [cma-l] Officialdom
> >
> >
> >
> > I think that’s an excellent idea. All in the spirit of ‘open government'.
> > One for Dom and Ed to discuss over a slice of cake I feel.
> >
> >
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > >
> > > On 5 Feb 2015, at 13:57, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com
> > > <mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Maybe we should formally ask to be shown the procedure - as it has
> > > a very direct effect on Applicants' businesses?
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > From: david at theradiopeople.co.uk
> > > <mailto:david at theradiopeople.co.uk>
> > > Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2015 11:08:49 +0000
> > > To: cma at nnbc.co.uk <mailto:cma at nnbc.co.uk>
> > > CC: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> > > <mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> > > Subject: Re: [cma-l] Officialdom
> > >
> > > It would be interesting to hear a summary of people’s experience on
> > > this as there is no published process.
> > >
> > > * As we all know, the list of applicants is first published
> > > followed, a few days later, by the application documents (once the
> > > confidential sections have been redacted).
> > > * We understand the application is broken into various sections
> > > and 'farmed out’ to specialists in each area.
> > > * We can’t identify any discernible order that Ofcom use for
> > > prioritising which applications to look at from a region.
> > > * If Ofcom has a query regarding anything in your application
> > > they will invariably email you. Our experience is that their questions
> > > are not worded particularly well (this could be intentional). So be
> > > careful how you answer them - don’t offer more that they are asking or you
> > > could dig yourself into a hole!
> > >
> > > In short, that’s our experience on behalf of our clients. Anyone
> > > else?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > > The Radio People
> > >
> > >
> > > <240 x 240 copy.jpg>
> > >
> > >
> > > Email: david at theradiopeople.co.uk
> > > <mailto:david at theradiopeople.co.uk>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Website: www.theradiopeople.co.uk <http://theradiopeople.co.uk/>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Twitter: @theradiopeople
> > > <http://www.twitter.com/theradiopeople>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Facebook: facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk
> > > <https://www.facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > On 5 Feb 2015, at 10:07, Terry Doyle <cma at nnbc.co.uk
> > > > <mailto:cma at nnbc.co.uk> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Can anyone provide me with some information on how those
> > > > OFCOM process community licence applications they've received... or is
> > > > subject to the Official Secrets Act (shoot me now!)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Just spoke to and 'representative' and boy do they know how
> > > > to 'answer' probing questions without 'answering' probing questions.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Why am I asking this? Oh just curious!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Terry Doyle
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > NNBC, Northampton
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
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