[cma-l] Review of the approach to community radioKey Commitments
Ian Hickling
transplanfm at hotmail.com
Sat Oct 17 14:56:25 BST 2015
AlanI can only reiterate our experience.We had a similar situation to yours with a CR Licensee who was allocated 25 + 25 - with an antenna restriction - to cover the two towns in his application whose centres are 7km apart - overall area width being 16km.We made the point very enthusiastically to Ofcom with predictions that 100 + 100 would cover it efficiently - and were allocated 50 + 50 after 4 weeks of discussion - with the same frequency - and no restriction.
I should stress that this was done before installation commenced - and with a sophisticated antenna system intuitively installed at an optimal site (see attached) the Client has made no complaint.Another recent example is where a Licensee was concerned that a commercial broadcaster on each first adjacent channel was audible in his licensed area and after representation by a fellow engineer, Ofcom increased the allocated ERP from 25 + 25 to 50 + 50 without his having to formally request it.So - it can be done.We too have had the response that it isn't Ofcom's policy to do something we requested - again on behalf of a broadcaster. I wrote to a senior management contact - with an open copy to a certain figurehead in the DCMS - and suggested politely that if Ofcom is to be seen to be fulfilling its stated obligations then it should review its policy.No reply as yet. But I submit that the "No appeal" response is unacceptable - and essentially inconsistent with the concept of a democratic society.
Don't tolerate it!
Ian Hickling
Partner
Office: 01635 578435 (7am-11pm UK time)Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 22:58:33 +0100
From: alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Review of the approach to community radioKey Commitments
Ian,
All excellent but my experience is that Ofcom are far from what you describe.
We asked for an increase of ERP from 25W to 100W. There was a professionally written business case, we had support from 3 local MPs, a comprehensive Arqiva report and a listener’s survey. This was not for an extension of the coverage but so our planned coverage could be achieved. It took the best part of 1 year for Ofcom to ultimately say no - no appeal just that it was 'not policy' to permit an increase.
To add insult to injury the local commercial station had earlier been permitted an increase from 100W to 1,000W to meet their business plans.
As one MP said at the time “Ofcom have some of the most expensive employees of any department… but they have no idea who they work for”.
Kind RegardsAlan Alan Coote Hear
Alan Every Week on Let’s Talk Business The UK’s Premier Radio Programme For
Current and Future Entrepreneurs - Now Broadcast To Over 7 Million People Email - alan.coote at 5digital.co.ukPhone - 0800 949 6655Mobile - 07801 518858Twitter - @TheAlanCoote
Twitter - @LTBShowWeb - http://www.LetsTalkBusinessOnline.com
From: <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of "transplanfm at hotmail.com"
Reply-To: "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk"
Date: Friday, 16 October 2015 16:05
To: "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk"
Subject: [cma-l] Review of the approach to community radioKey Commitments
Yeah - you say that about the 25W transmitter Nick - but as I've pointed out just once or twice before - 37 out of the current 232 CR stations on air have convinced Ofcom that they need more than that - and have got it.
100W is not uncommon - one has 850W!
The time to do it is when you get your frequency and power allocation - after that it gets much harder - but it's still been done.
You have to present an argument which says that without the right power allocation you cannot run a viable business.
Ian Hickling
Partner
Office: 01635 578435 (7am-11pm UK time)Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS
From: office at thethread.org.uk
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:47:47 +0100
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Review of the approach to community radioKey Commitments
Richard et al I have submitted the ‘rant’
as some in our fraternity will of course call it (I think
not) all I am is merely a person who is sick to death of going
around in a circle for 9 long years arguing and debating the same old debacle
on a ground hog day basis. Commercial Radio influencing decisions and poking
their conks into a project that has NOTHING at all to do with them. I don’t
interfere with them but they have influence on what we do. They seem to be able
to have power boosts, change programming and key commitments at the drop of a
hat and yet we’re trying to work in a straight jacket and jump through
hoops with only a quarter of the resources. I’ll tell you the biggest
restriction we all/each have A 25 WATT TRANSMITTER
! we don’t need anymore
restrictions, that alone is enough. We’re trying to provide a service to
people and for people who can’t hear us ??? and then they put
restrictions on us
who thought that one up ? a madman !?? I try when possible to ad a bit of humour
into the situation because if we didn’t laugh we’d go bonkers. Some
would argue I already have LOL For the record, the submission was made
clearly saying that I don’t care who reads it. I have long gone past all
of that /confidentiality nonsense’ what you
see is what you get, like it or lump it. Too much pussy-footying around, being
walked all over, we need to stand up and be counted with a bit more thrust and
determination. Remember that most of the comments coming back having a pop at
me are from the ‘’I’m alright Jack brigade’’ Under the confidentiality section I have
written ‘’announce it to the World’’
my name is on it, so we don’t have Mr Anon or Mrs pseudonym facebook or
Mr AKA Twitter …..stand up and be counted.I notice others on the message board who
also place posts that are quite forthright, I know quite a few of these folk,
they are fine …. They’re just fed up with the going round in
circles as well. Then of course there’s the silent majority. I know this
because they contact me and tell me …. They don’t want the aggro so
don’t get roped in … they still support the sentiment. So let us
not underestimate the ‘will’ to overcome. I will make my statement one more time.
Yes, we here at Canalside did understand the rules and implications at the
outset (we didn’t agree with them, but hey, such is
life) what we DID NOT EXPECT THOUGH, is to be
arguing about the same things 12 years down the line and listening to hot air
coming from Ministers saying how much they support Community Radio ……………do
something about it then. I’ll try to copy and paste …….(copy
and rant) J Restrictions = Get Shot of the Lot Regulate the spend and not the earn ..
this way there would be technically a limit (it would remain
not-for-profit) money earned would have to be re-invested into the
project and there is an element of protection for Commercial Radio Key Commitments ------- most of these
were written (me included) with all good intentions .. but in reality some not
achievable. They contained items that ticked boxes, wouldn’t offend
commercial radio and looked fluffy and nice ……. I was cringing
whilst writing them as I would imagine many others were. We were being pushed
down a road that we didn’t want to go down by the way the rules have been
laid out.The final straw for me is seeing people
being hauled over the coals for completely trivial matters and words like ‘investigation’
‘in breach’ etc being attached to
that Station. Completely unacceptable. Setting the Bar high and ‘’’at
least avin a go’’’ should be commended, not ridiculed if you
fall slightly short. This is obviously one of the reasons why this ‘consultation’
has come about .however, like with everything else it ought to have been done 3
years ago when folk like me and others saw the warning lights flashing. It
would possibly have saved me in total about a month of my life off the e-mail
and phone. I stick by the word I first mentioned 8
years ago ‘debacle’ I
think this was the word that upset one or two as I was on the receiving end of
a lecture. It of course went straight over my head. Of course life is about opinions, some
will agree, some will disagree ….but one thing is for sure, if you do
nothing about it, don’t get involved, don’t roll your sleeves up,
you will forever be trodden on.Time to cut-loose and let Community Radio
really flourish. By the way, read the comments from 3
years ago re:-TV ………….. correct again. It
was never going to work and the money ought to have been put into Community
Radio. We’d have a descent Pot, Commercial Radio would be protected (they’d
like that) and we’d only need to rummage through a few
adverts and everyone’s a happy bunny.I can’t remember the Minister at
the time (Jeremy Hunt possibly?) but my exact words to him
were ‘’don’t you think you ought to be sorting
out Community Radio first, before mIthering with Community TV?’ I’ve virtually covered the entry,
but I send it over Love you all xxx keep
on truckin’ Sir Hamster Wheel-Wright [University of Pott Shrigley] By the way …… I think Ofcom
have read it as there has been correspondence this morning .and I reckon it’s
food for thought. My command of English isn’t good & sadly I didn’t
get A Level or O Level English as you can see ……. The message is
clear though and that’s what matters. From:
cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk]
On Behalf Of Richard Hilton
Sent: 16 October 2015 09:26
To: The Community Media
Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Review of the
approach to community radioKey Commitments Glad you have done
this. Is it possible to share your submission as a guide and
encouragement to others to get involved in this vitally important
consultation? Richard From:
cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Canalside's The Thread
Sent: 15 October 2015 19:35
To: 'The Community Media
Association Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Review of the
approach to community radio Key Commitments Done and Dusted ! Seek under the headline/title
---- ‘’not pussy-footying
around’’ [part 1 ‘’hot under the
collar’’] [sub clause 4 ‘’haven’t we been
here 20 times before?’’] [sub section 2b ‘’seeing
is believing’’] [clause 5 ‘’it’s
about time’’] Sir Nicholas Henry Hamster Wheel-Wright
[Professor of Community Radio Economics] [University of Pott Shrigley] From:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk]
On Behalf Of CMA-L
Sent: 15 October 2015 17:35
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: [cma-l] Review of the
approach to community radio Key Commitments Community radio services broadcasting on FM or AM provide social gain
and other community benefits on a not-for-profit basis.
Each station is required to provide the service described in its licence, which
is based on the proposals it made during the application process for the
licence.
These service descriptions recorded in community radio licences are called
‘Key Commitments’.
This Ofcom consultation seeks views on a proposal to streamline and simplify
the Key Commitments.
This will free up community radio stations, enabling them to focus on serving
their target communities, adapt better to the changing needs of those
communities, and deliver social gain.
Ofcom invites written comments on the questions raised in this consultation, to
be submitted by 5pm on 21 October 2015.
Ofcom strongly prefers to receive responses in electronic format and their web
form will allow you to indicate your data protection preferences and send your
views to the team responsible for this consultation.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/key-commitments/
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