[cma-l] Community Radio Transmission Coverage

Mon Jan 2 20:14:25 GMT 2017

Ian and all

>From what I can remember the 25W and 5km guidance was only such. It was implemented by Ofcom to offer protection for smaller ILR services that could be under threat from new Community Radio services, in revenue terms !!!. The joke now is that probably hardly any of the ILR services it was to protect exist now. Most have merged into ILRs, groups or closed.

In my view, the whole ‘experiment’ was the last hurrah and some sort of badge of respectability for the outgoing regulator, the Radio Authority and was very ill conceived.

Today, ten years later, we have a regulator that has no head of radio and only a handful of staff with some knowledge of radio. However, recently has OFCOM recruited 70 new staff to regulate the BBC. It doesn’t take much to realise where their priorities are this year.

I think this does offer some upsides. 

But Ian, I’m afraid the door has now closed. If you look at the alleged Ofcom ‘consultation’, it clearly states their preferences going forward. They even miss-quote the CMA online survey. The majority of respondents do not want more services licenced. 

I do not agree the door is ajar. It is closed.

    Bob

      From: Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>
 To: The Community Media Association Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk> 
 Sent: Monday, 2 January 2017, 9:50
 Subject: [cma-l] Community Radio Transmission Coverage

#yiv1078314760 #yiv1078314760 -- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}#yiv1078314760 
At the risk of incurring terminal boredom, can I make the case for careful professional planning?The very existence of your station relies solely on its ability to reach a commercially-viable audience.
Why not spend time getting this right from the outset?
This has been my chosen niche for some 30-odd years and the basis of one half of our business.
I have lost count of the number of CR stations that we have visited or contacted which for one reason or another are not achieving the coverage they need or asked for - or indeed for which they have been licensed.
An astounding 83% of all currently-operational Community Radio stations fall into that last category - 83%! 
Even if you have continual access to pots of money - and who can say that -  why waste it on "horrendous fees" paid to Arqiva and the like who seed you as another mobile phone company?
OK - if you're already in operation and not optimally, this is all behind you.
So now's the chance, with Ofcom showing some interest, to properly appraise where you need to improve and hopefully save precious revenue expenditure at the same time.There are several organisations and individuals who will help you with this - and most like us will look at your situation in initially at no charge.
Get more than one opinion - just as you would if you were costing a large investment project - which this is!
I will always tell Clients if I think they are getting a better/cheaper deal from someone else - even if we feel we can't compete.
We just hate to see people spending hard-earned cash on the wrong things.
Enough said - sorry.
Ian HicklingPartner

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)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 Neil Munday <neilm at susyradio.com>
Sent: 01 January 2017 20:31
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022 Hi Nigel
Good to hear from you and a Happy New Year to our friends at Eden fm Penrith! 
I'm a little out of touch with Ofcom directly as my Colleague is our direct liaison officially. Keeps it simple! 
I have discussions at an engineering level occasionally, when needs must for some pointers,  but that's all. 
This Q of 5km rattles around and around. And we both know from various sites it can become tricky with finding a good location to place a transmitter and antenna without good accessibility and horrendous fees! Sometimes to keep moving locations constantly changes the coverage, costs money and can have disastrous consequences when a vital piece of kit fails in the process. 

Anyway something to discuss over a jar next time we meet!
Regards to all and I hope that Cumbria has a good winter this year. 
Neil

On Sun, 1 Jan 2017 at 17:21, admin <admin at edenfm.co.uk> wrote:

Hi Neil

Happy New Year to the Susy 

gang.

<<If not re calculate, re

adjust coatings and apply for a change. >?>

Changes are not up 

for discussion with Ofcom at present. 

After the

consultation results are reported, we will know where/when on the list 

changes be requested. My guess is that is some time away.

Before that, 

there is no option to discuss any 

changes.

Cheers.

-Nigel-

Eden FM Radio Ltd
Office : 01786 899 101
Studio: 01768 899 

107
Web: www.edenfm.co.uk
Twitter: 

@EdenFmRadio
Facebook : @edenfmonline

Mostyn Hall, Friargate, Penrith CA11 7XP

----- Original Message ----- 

From:

Neil Munday

To: The Community Media Association 

Discussion List 

Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2016 9:19

AM

Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy

Radio's licence until 2022

Thank you Ian, a better than good application included an extensive

coverage business model. Ours was based on 20 plus years of RSL experience 

covering the same area from the same tx site on FM and from a second site in 

AM. How we work within the community, what we have and are giving back to the 

community etc ...

The business model is not static either it has to evolve as the station

evolves, readjusting the parameters.  

Back to coverage 

Did you do your calculations correctly

Did you allow for losses in cables 

Are you using Vertical and Horizontal transmission (this does not mean

two antenna by the way). 

Is your tx site in the best possible place to get max coverage without

being blocked by other hills, mountains etc

Do an assessment. Drive around with the worst car radio you have and

listen. 

If not re calculate, re adjust coatings and apply for a 

change. 

 Best wishes for the new year. 

Neil

Ps

If there is any CR who would like to visit or ask a question then please

do. It has always been our policy to try and assist others if we can. I can 

explain the basics  but can try and arrange for our transmission engineer 

to be available at your visit or find out a more detailed answer if one is 

required! 

We have given offers of help and or advice to or engineering support to

several CR stations and several pop up RSLs over the years country 

wide. 

N

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 at 20:39, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>

wrote:

Nick

I think we may have had this conversation, but as

an

exponent of this subject in a

practical sense 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 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

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h

GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when

driving)

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>;

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>

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]

On Behalf Of CMA-L

Sent: 23 December 2016 11:58

To: 

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

\\

Community Media Association

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http://www.commedia.org.uk/

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