[cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March

[Martin Steers]

To clarify really.. this was not ofcoms decision, it was the DCMS who have
instructed Ofcom to extend the trials, it wouldnt be fair to hold criticism
against Ofcom for this as they are simply following instructions

They have also stated that post the 9 month "trial" period they wont
provide any more technical support.

On 8 March 2016 at 10:59, Alex Gray, Two Lochs Radio <tlr at gairloch.co.uk>
wrote:

> James
>
>
>
> What you say about Ofcom’s role regarding choice and plurality is of
> course true for duly-licensed regular broadcast services. However, Ofcom
> also has a duty to observe transparent and equitable treatment of
> stakeholders, and this is where it appears to be falling short in this case.
>
>
>
> Despite what you say, we are not talking about intended ongoing programme
> services – this was strictly a technical trial for a limited period – Ofcom
> was a great pains to make this very clear to all applicants, regardless of
> what nod or wink you feel it gave at a meeting. The criteria for selection
> of participants was also only to a limited extent based on extending choice
> – most are simulcasts and there was only a requirement to carry a minimum
> of two services. The primary criteria for awards were to do with achieving
> a spread of different technical scenarios for transmission, relays and
> programme feeds.
>
>
>
> In fact, Ofcom’s selection criteria for the trial included about 60
> specific technical criteria and just 12 programming/service criteria.
>
>
>
> It would have been reckless of a community radio station to base plans on
> anything other than the strict 9-month technical trial, which meant most,
> including ourselves, had to rule themselves out, even where they could have
> offered a very useful additional technical challenge to evaluate the system
> (such as our mountainous terrain), but Ofcom is now giving a distinct
> advantage to those who took a gamble with their station’s resources. Ofcom
> has also paid for a substantial amount of equipment for what is now an
> ongoing service, and no longer qualifies as a technical trial. (NB those
> stations and Ofcom should really now be recording that as ‘state aid’ which
> may affect other grant applications.)
>
>
>
> Whether or not Ofcom has taken the right decision at this point, I don’t
> see how you could be surprised that the decision might aggrieve some who
> took Ofcom at its word and based their own decisions on goalposts that it
> has retrospectively moved a very significant distance.
>
>
>
> Alex
>
>
>
> *From:* cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:
> cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] *On Behalf Of *James Cridland
> *Sent:* 08 March 2016 02:26
> *To:* martin at martinsteers.co.uk; The Community Media Association
> Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March
>
>
>
> In a stakeholder meeting, I asked (when these were first advertised)
> whether they'd really be pulled off after nine months, denying audiences
> the additional choice they may have become accustomed to. Ofcom wriggled a
> bit in their answer, but seemed to say "we'll look at that when the time
> comes". There was a clue there.
>
> >As this is a technical feasibility trial how is extending it to 3 years
> going to give a significantly better outcome?<
>
> It isn't. The actual technical feasibility trial is over; at least,
> without making a few changes to the multiplexes, Ofcom won't learn more
> over the next two years. That's not the point really.
>
> It's worthwhile examining why Ofcom exists.
> http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/what-is-ofcom/statutory-duties-and-regulatory-principles/
> - it is there to ensure a wide range of services and a plurality of
> providers. Turning off services while men in suits look at broadcast law
> and at broadcast field strengths is against Ofcom's statutory duty. More to
> the point, it is also unnecessary.
>
> So, Ofcom has elected not to remove the additional choice to listeners
> that these small-scale multiplexes offer. They now have two years to look
> at the results of the data and then at the legislation. It's the right
> choice for the listener, and I'm surprised that anyone would want anything
> else.
>
> J
>
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