[cma-l] Confession

Mon Sep 14 15:09:25 BST 2015

Just am example of how we went about it, I don’t think there is any hard
fast rule (unless someone tells us different).

We approached 3 or 4 suggested Ofcom transmission providers. Some advised
“don’t go for AM, it’s too costly and no one listens to AM anymore!

However, Ofcom were pushing that frequencies were available on AM in areas
that had dried up the FM frequencies (it was also mentioned that the
possibility of extending the AM frequency (radius/power out for AM would be
likely in late 2014 to bring in more listeners).

Only one Ofcom listed provider gave us a quote for supply and install of the
required equipment.

We talked to the council for a site that would ideally be: low lying and
wet/damp (better transmission).

This alone starts agreements/land searches/planning etc. from them and takes
anything up to 6 months and longer if any one objects.

The lottery bid takes between 6 and 9 months to confirm you have won it!

The licencing window is 3 months!

Guess work and hope!

We could not put in a Lottery bid without some meat on the bones, details.
We could not buy into land leasing if we didn’t know we could afford it if
the bid failed on both counts. We couldn’t do any of these without a
licence!

It’s all very much good will, good volunteering and hope.

No sour grapes though. We volunteer to give others an opportunity regardless
of who they are.

And hopefully we shall continue doing so. ON LINE.

Regards

Dave

YMCA Radio Barnsley

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Shankar Meembat
Sent: 14 September 2015 13:59
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Confession

I am an outsider to this process with no experience in this area, so pardon
the naivety.

"If Ofcom accepts that you have shown without reasonable doubt that you can
provide an efficient transmission system and you have the funds to achieve
that’  - seems to indicate that the application process requires that the
costing is already estimated prior to submitting the application and
submitted as part of the process ? 

What then causes the variation ? Ofcom awarding different transmission (AM
instead of FM applied for) or changing some other conditions during the
licence award ?

Shankar

Shankar Meembat, Founder and CEO
UK: +44 (741) 1130680 
US: +1 (702) 4782134 
FI: +358 (50) 4862963

 <https://www.facebook.com/exaget> 
 <https://www.linkedin.com/company/exaget-ltd->
<https://www.twitter.com/exaget>  <https://www.twitter.com/exaget>  

On 14 Sep 2015, at 13:43, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com> wrote:

This is the crux
Ofcom awards a Licence based on what you say you can do in your Application.
If Ofcom accepts that you have shown without reasonable doubt that you can
provide an efficient transmission system and you have the funds to achieve
that and you fail - then it's your responsibility.

But - and it is a real but - how much contribution does Ofcom make towards
your awareness of the hard facts?
If it doesn't do that effectively and you fail - whose responsibility is
that?

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 01635 578435  (7am-11pm UK time)

Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

  _____  

From: richodr at blueyonder.co.uk
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:46:33 +0100
CC: stevejones42 at talktalk.net
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Confession

Hi Ian

I think this is the first post to CMA Forum.

YMCA Radio Barnsley was successful in July 2014 in gaining an AM licence.

In July 2015 we had to hand back the licence. 

The cost for getting on air £100k! (mast/equipment/field rent/porta
cabin/fencing/security/studio link/insurance/yearly mast inspection and
power supply to a field). Never mind 5 years on costs!

The lottery after checking our application for funds said that looking at
other bids of a similar nature; we would not meet our outcomes!

So we had to hand it back. We tried but it was unrealistic.

Now then, “how’s small scale doing”   ?

Dave Richardson

YMCA Radio Barnsley.

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ian Hickling
Sent: 14 September 2015 11:47
To: cma-l
Subject: [cma-l] Confession

I've just had to do something I really hate - admit failure.

This morning I've written to a sincere hard-working young man in Bradford to
tell him that we can't offer him a feasible AM transmission system so he can
comply with his hard-won Community Radio Licence.

Not just us - but it's a joint decision including advice from another Ofcom
transmission provision company and also from our AM specialist friends at
the BBC.
I've copied in several relevant people at Ofcom too so that are aware of the
real difficulties that trying to put in an AM system where they say there is
no FM can bring.
Two weeks ago I sent them what I believe is a fair and honest price
comparison produced in good faith for a potential CR Applicant on the
outskirts of London that showed AM costing over five times that of an
equivalent-performance FM system.
This isn't some form of organised aggressive anti-AM campaign - I'm just
trying to get the fairest deal for our Clients and for Community Radio as a
whole.

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 01635 578435  (7am-11pm UK time)

Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

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