[cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022
Neil Munday
neilm at susyradio.com
Sat Dec 31 11:46:22 GMT 2016
Thank you Cal.
Neil
Susy Radio
On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 at 11:27, Cal McLean <mail at callum-mclean.co.uk> wrote:
> Ian,
>
>
>
>
>
> Forgive me for going off-topic with a technical query, but I'm curious:
>
>
>
>
>
> You say that the Ofcom 5km number was only ever a suggestion, and that
>
> the 25W H/V power limit may not have been stated as concrete or may not
>
> even be a rule at all - is there anything that, in terms of TX coverage,
>
> limits a CR station?
>
>
>
>
>
> I was always under the impression that a CR station was defined by its'
>
> licence and social obligations, rather than any technical limitation
>
> (encroaching on other existent CR stations' coverage notwithstanding?)
>
>
>
>
>
> I'm too young to be fully aware of the vagaries of Ofcoms' licencing
>
> requirements when Halton CR started in the early 2000s (I was part of
>
> the station, but not in any technical capacity!) As a result, I'm always
>
> curious to see how the ever-shifting sands of Ofcom regulation (and
>
> whichever other factors may have come into play) have created this
>
> curious situation where some members feel hard done by, where there
>
> seems to be a mix of company structures (some of which were not allowed
>
> to run CR stations at various points in time) and where there doesn't
>
> appear to be a clear picture of what's going on in the CR sector, as
>
> opposed to the closely-scrutinised commercial sector. Surely there must
>
> be more of us than them?
>
>
>
>
>
> Cheers all, and congratulations to Susy!
>
>
>
>
>
> Cal McLean
>
>
>
> Halton Community Radio
>
>
>
>
>
> On 30/12/2016 16:54, Ian Hickling wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Nick
>
> >
>
> > I think we may have had this conversation, but as an exponent of
>
> > thissubject in a practicalsense can I explain what happens in real life?
>
> >
>
> > Th "5km radius" was always the example used by Ofcom to give
>
> > Applicants a typical range for a Community Radio operation.
>
> > It was never a rule or a limit.
>
> > For some time recently it has seemed that Ofcom has been expressing
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> > 5km as some kind of limitation or norm - but I have always opposed
>
> > this as wrong and indeed impractical whenever it has cropped up with
>
> > our Clients.
>
> > There is a parallel "non-rule" of power being limited to 25W vertical
>
> > plus 25W horizontal,
>
> > As I'm sure I've pointed out before - out of the 303 CR stations
>
> > licensed, 38 (16% of those currently on air) have been allocated more
>
> > than that "norm" - because they have shown Ofcom that it was necessary
>
> > to fulfil their business model.
>
> > The rest presumably haven't bothered - have been too scared to put
>
> > their case - or have thought just 25W was enough or all they would get.
>
> > And an amazing 85% of stations are not using the other half (the
>
> > horizontal component) of their allocated power - effectively throwing
>
> > away around 40% of their licensed coverage.
>
> > Why would you want to do that?
>
> > From the outset the premise from Ofcom was "Tell us your Community -
>
> > and tell us how you propose to cover it"
>
> > Your situation Nick as we have discussed is a little different.
>
> > There are (or were) other outside reasons why you are being prevented
>
> > from serving audience demand and I think now is the right time to put
>
> > some more weight behind your very just cause.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Ian Hickling
>
> >
>
> > Partner
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> >
>
> > <http://www.transplanuk.com/>
>
> >
>
> > /Office: 016 3557 8435 (07h to 22h GTS)/
>
> >
>
> > /Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)/
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> >
>
> > /6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS/
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> > *From:* cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
>
> > <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of Canalside's The
>
> > Thread <office at thethread.org.uk>
>
> > *Sent:* 30 December 2016 12:11
>
> > *To:* 'The Community Media Association Discussion List'
>
> > *Subject:* [cma-l] FW: Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022
>
> >
>
> > *From:*Canalside's The Thread [mailto:office at thethread.org.uk]
>
> > *Sent:* 30 December 2016 11:56
>
> > *To:* 'Canalside's The Thread' <office at thethread.org.uk>
>
> > *Subject:* RE: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022
>
> >
>
> > Neil et al
>
> >
>
> > It’s not a scream, it is as always with moi an observation to facts.
>
> > The fact (s) being that either the rules are 5km or they are not. For
>
> > some their hats have been nailed on, for others there has been
>
> > flexibility and for others it appears as if there has been a
> free-for-all.
>
> >
>
> > Knowing all the problems (dare I say ongoing problems) you would have
>
> > thought a simple explanation could have been given as to what process
>
> > and what rules we are working to.
>
> >
>
> > Why doesn’t anyone listen to the facts ? the facts are we were told
>
> > this was a rule --- others have said it isn’t a rule it is an
>
> > advisory, others have said it now doesn’t exist and is what you put
>
> > down on your application. Too late of course for the rookies who had
>
> > their original dabble over ten years ago.
>
> >
>
> > The official folk on this matter ie:- Mr and Mrs Ofcom state it is
>
> > a rule ………… well that’s gone bon voyage and straight out the window
>
> > when you look at what is going on ……………. Hence confusion abound.
>
> >
>
> > For example :- if it is a nailed down, no questions asked 5km ruling,
>
> > then we may as well all go home and chuck all the kit on the fire and
>
> > throw the towel in as we will never be able to survive. It is clear
>
> > common sense (there’s that word again) that we rely a little bit on
>
> > luck in the fact that our transmitters ‘bleed-out’ slightly for
>
> > another 2 or 3km so that we can at least hook in a few just outside
>
> > the official area.
>
> >
>
> > Our problem of course is that where we (Canalside) are based you have
>
> > to travel at least 1 and half miles N / S / E / W before you reach
>
> > people again outside of Bollington or else all we are broadcasting to
>
> > are sheep and cows ………………. This has been explained a hundred times,
>
> > but to no avail.
>
> >
>
> > You (Neil) mentions topography etc etc once again we have
>
> > missed the point ……………. Either we operate to a 5km system or we don’t.
>
> > The moment Ofcom/DCMS start shuffling things around and giving lee-way
>
> > to some who are down a ditch or behind a tree then what’s good for the
>
> > goose is good for the gander kicks into gear.
>
> >
>
> > The whole thing is a cock-up ……………….. however, the ‘’’cock-up’’’ can
>
> > easily be rectified if people are permitted to discuss and then tweak
>
> > what is necessary so that a Community Radio Station can cover the
>
> > Community it is meant to be serving.
>
> >
>
> > Common sense (there’s that word yet again) is then applied once more
>
> > so that ‘some’ Stations don’t start getting carried away with
>
> > themselves bearing in mind that we are LOCAL Radio and not REGIONAL
>
> > Radio. You don’t have to be an expert to work this out. Some people of
>
> > course would like to split hairs on this matter in order to put a
>
> > pointless case forward or to get what they want. They may fool some
>
> > people but they certainly don’t fool me and never have.
>
> >
>
> > It’s very similar to the discussion I had with Martin re:-
>
> > restrictions. We simply lift all the restrictions and
>
> > let everyone ‘’’get-on-with-it’’’ if all of a sudden Station ‘A’ that
>
> > has been operating on £55,000 per-annum suddenly goes up to £130,000
>
> > per-annum with 6 of the Trustees Holidaying in the Maldives for 8
>
> > weeks then the alarm bells start ringing. Hence why I have always
>
> > said ‘’regulate the SPEND’’ and not the earn’
>
> >
>
> > Not difficult, but made difficult by people who want it to be difficult.
>
> >
>
> > That leads me finally onto Davids observation regarding the
>
> > ‘’’consultation’’’ I think the reason why there’s only 14
>
> > Stations as opposed to 250 commenting is because everyone has malaise
>
> > and has basically ‘given up’
>
> >
>
> > My personal feelings on all these matters have been expressed via
>
> > message boards, via consultations, via meetings with CMA / Ofcom /
>
> > DCMS / Politicians ……….. the problem is if you are dealing with people
>
> > who simply won’t play ball you are always going to be up against it.
>
> >
>
> > The only option we have is to soldier on and do something yourself
>
> > ---- in various quarters I/We have done this --- it would of course be
>
> > more effective if we actually did something about it as a group
>
> > instead of having consultations.
>
> >
>
> > I have over the years taken a good long hard look at myself and my
>
> > observations … I have done it to try and make myself back off and
>
> > convince myself that actually I am totally wrong and that all the
>
> > rules and regulations and processes are correct. I have searched in
>
> > every nook and cranny and sadly I actually don’t think I am wrong ---
>
> > I actually think I am spot on and that’s why I don’t shut up. I would
>
> > not be doing our fraternity justice if I did roll over and died.
>
> >
>
> > So to conclude I don’t scream nor do I rant, I merely make
>
> > forthright observations that looking Back over the years 9 times out
>
> > of 10 are correct --- I just wish someone would take the Bull by the
>
> > Horns and sort it all out ….. then tell me that I was wrong …… sadly
>
> > they won’t be able to.
>
> >
>
> > I have even done the ultimate bit ‘’put the money where the mouth
>
> > is’’ let’s do it the way I have suggested, give it a try, if it
>
> > doesn’t work (which it only won’t work if it is not regulated
>
> > correctly) and see what happens.
>
> >
>
> > Happy New Year everyone onwards and upwards to Dumptyland
>
> >
>
> > Nick
>
> >
>
> > *From:*Neil Munday [mailto:neilm at susyradio.com]
>
> > *Sent:* 30 December 2016 10:20
>
> > *To:* The Community Media Association Discussion List
>
> > <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
>
> > <mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>>; office at thethread.org.uk
>
> > <mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>
>
> > *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022
>
> >
>
> > Rather than scream about it on here if you would like a conversation I
>
> > will explain our restrictions and our topography which cause this
>
> > against our official coverage area if which some we don't cover
>
> > effectively.
>
> >
>
> > Call me 07767767689
>
> >
>
> > Neil Munday
>
> >
>
> > Operations Director
>
> >
>
> > Susy Radio 103.4
>
> >
>
> > On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 at 10:17, Canalside's The Thread
>
> > <office at thethread.org.uk <mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Reigate, Redhill, Horley, Crawley, Gatwick ??? Good Lord
>
> > ! that’s the largest 5km I’ve ever seen in my life !
>
> >
>
> > If someone could explain this process (as in from the outset) I
>
> > would be very grateful.
>
> >
>
> > I know we have been here before with this discussion, but along
>
> > with other issues you can see surely why people get frustrated.
>
> >
>
> > Owing to restrictions we (Canalside) are OFFICIALLY on 5km -----
>
> > and NO !! we didn’t ask for it, we were led up a garden path
>
> > which clearly was wrong. All we are asking for is a small ‘tweak’
>
> > because the rules have now changed.
>
> >
>
> > Is anyone asking the necessary questions in the correct places ?
>
> > or are we just drifting along aimlessly ?
>
> >
>
> > Please please explain to me why some have 5km and some have 10km
>
> > and some have 15km and the answer dare not be
>
> > ‘’Because they asked for it’’ as far as I am
>
> > aware everyone asked originally to ‘cover’ their Community we
>
> > certainly did but were told ‘’you’re not allowed because????’’
>
> >
>
> > And the circus continues with everyone operating under different
>
> > rules ??
>
> >
>
> > It’s bonkers ! these so called
>
> > restrictions have got a hell of lot to answer for along with the
>
> > clots that dreamt them up in the first place
>
> >
>
> > Well done though to Susy on the extension to the licence
>
> >
>
> > Onwards and Upwards for 2017
>
> >
>
> > Nick
>
> >
>
> > *From:*cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
>
> > <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
>
> > [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
>
> > <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>] *On Behalf Of *CMA-L
>
> > *Sent:* 23 December 2016 11:58
>
> > *To:* cma-l at commedia.org.uk <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > *Subject:* [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022
>
> >
>
> > Susy Radio is pleased to announce that the station's licence has
>
> > been officially extended for another 5 years until 2022. Susy
>
> > Radio, broadcasting on 103.4FM and online from its studio in
>
> > Merstham, Surrey, came on air as a fully licensed 24/7 community
>
> > station in July 2012 following many years of occasional broadcasts.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Susy's Programme Director Geoff Rogers said "I'm so pleased that
>
> > Susy Radio is going to be given the opportunity to continue its
>
> > work as the official local community radio station for East Surrey
>
> > and North Sussex. We look forward immensely to the new
>
> > opportunities to work with and serve the community in the next
>
> > five years."
>
> >
>
> > Chairman Alan French noted "This reflects so well on all who have
>
> > been involved with Susy Radio from its beginning to the present
>
> > day and made it the great community radio station it has become
>
> > today. Thank you to all the volunteer staff.”
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > *Further information*
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Susy Radio 103.4 is the official Community Radio station covering
>
> > Reigate, Redhill, Horley, Crawley and Gatwick with all places in
>
> > between. Susy Radio is run entirely by volunteers and has a
>
> > excellent working relationships with many local community groups,
>
> > local authorities, other broadcasters and journalists.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Susy Radio is funded by a split between grants and donations vs
>
> > advertising and operates as a "Not for Profit" Limited company.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > More information:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Neil Munday
>
> > Operations Director
>
> > Susy Radio 103.4
>
> > neilm at susyradio.com <mailto:neilm at susyradio.com>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > \\
>
> >
>
> > Community Media Association
>
> > --
>
> > http://www.commedia.org.uk/
>
> > http://twitter.com/community_media
>
> > https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>
> >
>
> > Canstream Internet Radio & Video
>
> > http://www.canstream.co.uk/
>
> > https://twitter.com/canstream
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
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>
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>
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