[cma-l] Small scale DAB licensing consultation

[CMA-L]

*Summary*
The government is seeking views on proposals for a licensing regime for
small scale DAB radio multiplexes

This consultation closes at 5pm on 28 February 2018

*Consultation description*
The emergence of the software enabled approach to broadcasting on DAB radio
and its developing maturity as a workable and practical technology has the
potential to provide smaller commercial and community radio stations with a
practical and cost effective way of broadcasting on a terrestrial digital
platform; and ensure these stations will not be left behind by a future
shift of radio from FM and AM to digital.

DCMS funded technical work by Ofcom including 10 field trials in towns and
cities has demonstrated the viability of using an open source software
based approach to broadcasting on DAB at a small scale. However, the
licensing arrangements for the 10 trials are not a suitable basis for the
long-term licensing of small scale DAB radio multiplexes. To address this
DCMS supported the successful passage of a Private Member’s Bill,
introduced by Kevin Foster MP, through Parliament in early 2017. The
Broadcasting (Radio Multiplex Services) Act 2017 gives the Secretary of
State a power to modify through secondary legislation the provisions under
existing broadcasting legislation that are concerned with the award of
radio multiplex licences. Our aim is create a lighter touch regulatory
regime that is more suitable for small scale radio multiplexes. Therefore
the Government now wants to take views from commercial radio and community
radio on the best approach of licensing small scale DAB radio multiplexes.

We welcome comments from individuals and organisations involved in the
commercial and community radio sectors, including members of the public who
hold an interest in commercial and/or community radio.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/small-scale-dab-licensing-consultation

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Community Media Association
-- 
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/canstream
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