[cma-l] Ofcom Announcement

Tue May 2 08:37:23 BST 2017

Interesting that there are two very clear ways of looking at this, both technically right and both technically wrong

Awarding more licenses invariably (as Martin points out) creates more competition ….. competition coming in many ways, shapes and forms. Considering that many are under pressure as it is anywhere where competition increases isn’t actually a good thing in this case (is it???). One of the main reasons why it isn’t a good thing is because over the past 15 Years the word ‘’’competition’’’ in itself has been a ‘’bad’’   ‘’foul’’  word    (certainly from the commercial sector)    restrictions are in place to actually stop us from competing   (or at least that is how it read at the start)       bizarre situation though     they can compete against us, but we daren’t return the favour ????                 to then move onto the next step where Community folk who are not meant to be competing start competing amongst themselves turns what already is a debacle into Fred Carnos Circus.

Bidding against each other in a Radio Fund is a farce.   

I don’t personally think the Radio Fund is even worth wasting type writer time over as that became a complete joke about 6 Years ago. I’m not knocking anyone here, it is what it is, however it was the Government that set the Community Radio Ship sailing back in 2002/03 ------ it has been abandoned on the high seas …. That is how I see the Radio Fund.

I think Common sense should be applied here --- however, that means that it hasn’t a cat in hells chance as common sense never gets applied.

This is like Ground Hog Day                           areas where there is no Community Station serving (especially those who are ‘ready-to-go’)    let em ‘get on with it’        where there might be cross-over / competition       does common sense not tell us that the ‘new people’ need to join the throng of those who already exist   ???    or is this simplifying things too much ?

I personally think it takes the biscuit if more Stations are licensed under these circumstances considering the majority of us have been under restrictions for the past 15 Years based purely on that word ‘competition’   ‘protection from competition’           you really couldn’t write the script on this lot.

Have I missed the point here ?     I thought the last correspondence was about people either    1) Increasing their coverage area ‘slightly’     2) Covering the area they were meant to be covering in the first instance but got hoodwinked and shafted along the way                         they are the only two on the table as I see it  ……… please enlighten me if I have missed others.

Can I point out that I do not wish to sound like a member of the ‘’’I’m alright Jack’’ brigade … I am anything but (the more the merrier I say)       but alas     apply common sense please

If a Community licence is offered in the same zone as an already functioning Community Station, then I would hope the do the same with a Commercial Licence. Looks like the geese and ganders are making an appearance again.

I think I have reached the point where I don’t know what to think anymore ?   as nothing is adding up.

We’ve had an announcement and now it seems to have gone full circle and we’re back to square one             Bill / Martin   please explain ??       a Chimps guide for me

Nick

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Martin Steers
Sent: 28 April 2017 16:01
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Cc: cma-l <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom Announcement

I think thats more the concept of more new licenses (not extensions).

I think there are some CR who are concerned about more stations and the possible competition in their areas, radio fund etc.

On 28 April 2017 at 14:39, Bob Tyler <bobtyler at btinternet.com <mailto:bobtyler at btinternet.com> > wrote:

I note that Ofcom quoted a CMA survey, where less than half of respondents did not want more new licences. 

So guess 20 new services by 2018/19 and 20 handing back licences!

BT 

Sent from my iPad

On 28 Apr 2017, at 12:45, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com <mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com> > wrote:

As I've written elsewhere:

This is good - but it's not perfect.
Several facets are unhelpful - and are not what Ofcom was either advised or asked to do.

See this for starters:
Future licensing of community radio services
1.6 Due to the level of demand for licences evidenced by the number of expressions of interest we received, we have decided to proceed with a further round of analogue community radio licensing.

Good - but wasn't that an obvious conclusion?

1.7 As a result of the consultation feedback, we have decided to invite applications before carrying out frequency planning work, with a view to speeding up our processes for granting new licences.

Again - good - but what we have been saying all along

1.8 We have therefore decided to proceed to invite applications for new community radio services in all the areas for which we have received expressions of interest.

Ah - "...in all the areas for which we have received expressions of interest...."?
NO!!! 
Individuals applied - not "areas"! 
Invitations should be issued only to those who applied.
This misguided concept of "fairness" is a waste of at least three months in the process and is entirely unnecessary.

1.9 We will prioritise those locations that do not overlap with an existing community radio service, by inviting applications in those areas now; and later this year invite applications in the areas where there is at least one existing community radio service.

Why?
Many areas now have more than one CR service because they applied and Ofcom agreed. Again this so-called "fairness" policy is actually very unfair to Applicants who have already done all the hard work and are sitting waiting for the opportunity to apply.
Ofcom is penalising good Applicants by making them wait while they open the door to those who have not done the work. Invite applications on merit - not on geography.

1.10 An invitation to apply for new licences in the first batch of areas will be published alongside this statement. An updated application form and notes of guidance will be published next Friday, 5 May.

Excellent - a good forward move - but let's cut out all the delays - shall we?

Believe me - there's lots more!

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

  _____  

From: Ian Hickling < <mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com> transplanfm at hotmail.com>
Sent: 28 April 2017 11:32
To:  <mailto:office at thethread.org.uk> office at thethread.org.uk; The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] FW: Ofcom - tomorrow 

Interesting that Ofcom made an important announcement this morning:
 <https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/101459/community-radio-future-licensing-technical-policy-statement.pdf> https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/101459/community-radio-future-licensing-technical-policy-statement.pdf

just as the CMA delegation was going in to a meeting to discuss all of that - and a few other vital points.

Coincidence?
Or carefully planned strategy?

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

  _____  

From:  <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk < <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of Canalside's Thread events guide for NE Cheshire < <mailto:office at thethread.org.uk> office at thethread.org.uk>
Sent: 28 April 2017 11:02:34
To: 'The Community Media Association Discussion List'
Subject: [cma-l] FW: Ofcom - tomorrow 

Dear People of Great Loveliness

Not forgetting a troop of (few) other Stations who were hoodwinked at the outset as to what area they were meant to be covering, mind-boggled with jargon, led up the garden path, pecked at by (let’s use James’s phrase) childish moronic folk who lobbied to introduce restrictions (which by the way DID affect the set up) and still does indirectly affect operation as we still have to deal with all the baggage and leftovers from the mess     (and I don’t want any so called experts trying to tell me otherwise as we [canalside] lived it, breathed it and have the T-Shirt to prove it)      but alas, we have the Commercials / Experts who we have been told recently ‘apparently’     ‘’’want to help us’’’ 

Actions speak louder than words, so the best thing everyone can do is go back to square one, start how we ought to have started and then all the angst and frustration gets put to bed, we forgive and forget and move on     YES    as a Radio Fraternity, each with our own roles to play.

Let’s ask the same questions, but wheel in the Man from Del Monte coz ‘’he say Yes’’

Personally, I do not have an issue with metaphorically speaking being third fiddle as I am but a mere insect in all of this, in fact I am but a mere insect in most things --- however, I take a dim view to being shoved to the back of the queue & being third fiddle whilst having our noses rubbed in it at the same time.

Let us have a bit of respect shown to our sector with actions --- not words nor more consultations and then we can ALL go to the hob-knobbing gatherings on an equal footing.

If the experts and commercials do this, I will be the first person to give em a great big kiss and parade them around the streets of London in a sedan chair.

On a positive note ---- yes the experts giving tips and advice and putting it out there for us all is very good and it is to be applauded and I thank them and respect them for that – but you have to see the wider picture, and the wider picture is that unless you/we/they/DCMS/Ofcom/Uncle Tom Cobbley sort out the ‘’’politics’’’   implementing the advice ends up the same trying to push a 3 ton rock up Ben Nevis.

Onwards and Upwards ----- monkeee magic & goodwill to all mankind

Nick H Dumpty - Chairman / UK Crying in the Wilderness Society

From:  <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> 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 Bill Best
Sent: 28 April 2017 09:36
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List < <mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk> cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom - tomorrow

Ian

I again draw your attention to Ofcom's consultation "Community radio: future licensing and technical policy" published on 28th October 2016:

1.4 We anticipate that our current (third) round of licensing will draw to a close in late spring 2017, and that licensing of small-scale DAB services may not commence before 2018. In the interim, we propose to license more analogue services, as well as consider coverage improvements for existing services. 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/cr-future-licensing

We will be asking for further clarification of Ofcom's deadline and insisting that Ofcom publishes its response to the technical consultation that Sharon White indicated would be delivered by the end of April.

Regards

Bill

-- 

Operations Manager

Community Media Association

http://www.commedia.org.uk

https://twitter.com/community_media

https://facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet Radio

http://www.canstream.co.uk

https://twitter.com/canstream

On 27 April 2017 at 11:34, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com <mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com> > wrote:

Open message to Bill Best:

Bill - we wish you all the best in your meeting at Ofcom tomorrow.

Don't forget to stress that there are 243 CR broadcasters out here - and another 160-plus potential Applicants - that have been waiting for a very long tome for news of how Ofcom is going to proceed with serving this market - and for at least some results from the 33 Region 10 and 11 applications.

Thank you.

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

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