[cma-l] Confession

Mon Sep 14 15:11:52 BST 2015

Hi ShankarThe point I am making is that in awarding an AM Community Radio Licence, Ofcom should as a matter if conscience and indeed good business practice make sure that the Licensee is fully aware of the additional costs and hazards over and above those known and anticipated for the much simpler and better-publicised FM platform.
These are, I suggest:Few installation companiesFew experts with suitable knowledge and experiencePoor listener acceptabilityPoor licensing record - only 5 out of a total of 274 UK awardsLow receiver availabilityLower audio qualitySubject to overseas interference outside daylight hoursUnpredictable coverageVery large and expensive antennaRequirement for specific site size and featuresLow availability of UK-produced transmittersLow availability of suitable Aerial Tuning Units.Higher price for transmitters and ancilliariesUncertainty as to CE-marking of imported equipmentDo I need to go on?
Please - somebody correct me if you disagree?
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: shankar.meembat at exaget.com
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:58:45 +0100
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
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 ?

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

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

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 RichardsonYMCA 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 HicklingPartner

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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