[cma-l] Region 10 Licensing

[Alex Gray, Two Lochs Radio]

Lol

 

Just to add to the picture, in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland numerous communities found that it was perfectly practical to apply for the commercial pathway to gain local commercial licences, even though actually operating the stations on a not-for-profit basis. Seven stations went down this route (one has since converted to a community radio licence).

 

I guess the problem is not directly the financial or expertise difficulty in applying for commercial licences, but that in more financial attractive urbanized areas, there is a lot more competition for spectrum from mainstream commercial licence applicants leaving little space for community-based commercial applicants.

 

Alex

 

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of lolgellor
Sent: 08 February 2016 16:41
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Region 10 Licensing

 

Hello Ian

 

As someone who has been, and remains, involved in legal broadcasting over a number of years I'm not unsympathetic to your passionate position regarding "Pirates". I feel an aspect of the problem both historically and currently is that there has never been a realistic pathway into local commercial broadcasting for those without immediate access to the necessary finances or expertise. Indeed some of the established legal commercial stations have their origins as pirates. Transition facilitated usually once popularity had been established and they could then attract the money people to legally bid. Usually with a blind eye position from the authorities regarding their history. The aspirations of licensed community stations are required to be not for profit and quite rightly in my view but that does not accomodate for those that identify a community/market that is not served and with whom they wish to commercially engage. Notably in London and other cities there are communities with culture and language not addressed by the mainstream or legal local broadcasting. They are ostensibly required to become the selfless sausages that comprise most involved in community radio or engage in illegal activity. I remember well campaigning for community radio legislation and it is with some regret we were not able to fend off the resistance of the commercial radio lobby to anything but not for profit aspirations. Clearly this does not apply in lots of cases of pirate activity but this absence of a pathway onto local commercial radio still remains a contributing factor. I say this in an individual capacity and it does not reflect the position of any organisation with which I may be associated. 

 

More power to your elbow and I look forward to your always sterling contribution to this list.

 

All best

LolG



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