[cma-l] Region 10 Licensing

[Ian Hickling]

Following Ofcom's recent updating of its CR Timetable:http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-broadcast-licensing/community-radio/apply-for-licence/timetable- here's a relevant train of thought.I was in South London on Friday, where we are building new studios for an International broadcaster, when I had to move my car at about 2 o'clock so that others could leave the rather small car park.
I put the radio on while I was waiting and found 8 strong illegal broadcasters within a few seconds - most of which I recognised from my own and others' previous scans as regular offenders.Why are they still there - in some cases for well over a decade?
Because in Ofcom's judgement they aren't actually damaging any licensed transmissions.
Which means in essence that they are occupying frequencies which are available for legitimate use,
So as Ofcom is going to be inviting Applications soon for CRs within the M25, what is it going to be saying about FM availability?
Is this not a God-given opportunity to give illegal broadcasters a final chance to become legitimate or be wiped out?
The phrase "Hunted Down to Extinction" is the one I'd like to use.
Ofcom has precise and efficient detection equipment at Baldock and elsewhere, has all these illegal operators documented, knows where they are - and in many cases knows the identity of individual perpetrators.
It is also relatively simple to locate their transmitters and identify their supporters, funders and advertisers.
Let's have a proper effective campaign to tell illegal broadcasters in London to Shape Up or Ship Out.
It doesn't require any action by Parliament or any new legislation - just the enforcement of the Laws we have in place already to remove offenders by the people who are tasked with doing that.
We have ANPR units that automatically identify and deal with vehicles without road tax and insurance that are cheating us and the Government out of valuable revenue - so why not a similar process for these perpetual and equally dangerous law-breakers?
I'm going to put this formally to Government, to the DCMS and to Ofcom.Who's with me?
Ian Hickling
Partner

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