in today's Ofcom Bulletin - two community stations - Voice Of Africa [London] and Afan [Port Talbot, Wales] are told off for apparently going off air [or near as]. <br><br><a href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb175/issue175.pdf">http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb175/issue175.pdf</a><br>
<br>There's an interesting nuance - VOA went off air completely for weeks it seems and neglected to tell Ofcom at all, and Afan had what sounds like a terminal IT meltdown and had to put on a loop for a week or three. Now they told Ofcom about their IT SNAFU, got permission for a temporary remedial service [that didnt fulfill their Key Commitments] but over-ran on the amount of time they'd been permitted. Ofcom discovered the VOA boo-boo and a complainant alerted then to the Afan situation Both stations have had the same breach declared but I wonder if the different approaches to Ofcom will make the seriousness of any sanction vary between the two?<br>
<br>Of course we cant know the full context and detail of the two incidents but one lesson is clear - if there's something going awry that's likely to make you breach your licence - 'fess up! Start a dialogue w the community radio team - they are reasonable people [whatever you think of the regulations Nick]...<br>
<br>best wishes<br><br>Phil<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Phil Korbel<br>Director<br>0161 237 5454<br><br>Radio Regen is a community, media and urban regeneration charity <br>A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales No. 3753832 <br>
Registered office: 12 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1JF <br>Registered Charity No. 1077763 <br><a href="http://www.radioregen.org">www.radioregen.org</a><br><a href="http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net">www.communityradiotoolkit.net</a><br>
<br><br><br>