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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Bob<div>That's a wonderful tongue-in-cheek assessment - thank you.</div><div>Can I print and frame it?</div><div>The band concerned is still correctly termed VHF Band II - "FM" is only the delivery method as we all know - technologically there is no "FM Band".</div><div>Roof-top aerials are by no means redundant by the way - they're necessary for satisfactory reception on fixed domestic and commercial equipment.</div><div>Are you seriously suggesting that there is a "beauty contest" for the selection of successful Community Radio Licensees?</div><div>I trust you can produce evidence?</div><div>And is your parting shot:</div><div><font size="3"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"The reality is that the only policy is to switch to DAB so any FM debate is a waste of time</span></font><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: tahoma, 'new york', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">."</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="3"> </font></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="3">your own view - or perceived Government policy?</font></span></div><div><font size="3">Either way - sorry - no - it doesn't help.<br></font><br><div><hr id="stopSpelling">Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:09:00 +0100<br>From: bobtyler@btinternet.com<br>To: cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk; ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk<br>Subject: Re: [cma-l] Extending Community Radio on FM<br><br><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:tahoma, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div class="ecxMsoNormal">Tony</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">It is my understanding that the British specification for
the FM (then VHF) band was established before the Second World War. At the
time it was considered that only the two BBC services would be on VHF. I
believe that the specifications laid down are still current and are based on
roof top aerials, as it was considered that to receive VHF such an aerial would
be required. </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">Also for some reason, we in the UK also decided to
employ<span style=""> </span>extra separation/guarding, in
order to prevent ANY possibility of<span style=""> </span>the
Home Service Bedford transmitter interfering with the Home Service Dover transmitter or Crewe Relay. In other words, we have more space between services
than any other country in Europe. In many respects we have the perfect VHF/FM
transmitter network.</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">Of course then, it was not expected that the reception of
radio would extend to telescopic aerials or tiny coil antenna, thereby making
the roof top aerial redundant. Nor even then, was the prospect of commercial or
community radio in the future mix. As a side issue, a few commercial stations and many
community radio station are in allocated BBC spectrum at the behest of Dear Old
Aunty. </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">The mystery of so called ‘expertise’ in planning the VHF/FM
spectrum has remained in the hand of the regulators. I do remember asking my MP
sometime in the 70’s <span style=""> </span>to lodge a written
question about an available frequency to The Home Secretary, only to receive
the reply that 101 point something was ‘used to track otters” . </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">I did have it confirmed that 102.2 was assigned wrongly and
should have been able to accommodate several UK allocations but apparently the
spectrum had been badly assigned at a too high a power in the East of England, (flat
terrain) <span style=""> </span>thereby rendering the space
sterile for a large part of the country. </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">In summary there are many issues (and many question)
surrounding spectrum allocation and the regulator of the day always hold the
mystery ticket. The ‘beauty contest’ of selecting future licence holders
compounds the decision process. The reality is that the only policy is to
switch to DAB so any FM debate is a waste of time. </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">Hope this helps</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div><div class="ecxMsoNormal">Bob</div><div>
</div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"> </div> <div style="font-family:tahoma, 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"> <div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <hr size="1"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Tony Bailey <ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">To:</span></b> The Community Media Association Discussion List <cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk> <br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sunday, 28 September 2014, 10:01<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [cma-l] Extending Community Radio on FM<br> </font> </div> <div class="ecxy_msg_container"><br><div id="ecxyiv242569728">
<div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728moz-cite-prefix">If we are talking about ITU-R BS 412-9
Planning Standards for Terrestrial FM sound broadcasting at VHF,
it dates from 12/1998 and incidentally, is a Recommendation. Of
course, we aren't far enough away from other countries to not
follow it. To take up an earlier point, the recent statements
about VHF no-go areas clearly needs to be challenged. For
example, Central Bedfordshire which is basically Bedford county
minus Luton and Bedford. Apart from the fact that it is a very
irregular area, it is some 30 km wide, well beyond the range of
the 5 km standard. From information available online, there are a
number of channel groups around 15 db/uV (60-45) in Biggleswade,
which is a relatively "hot" location. One wonders what "rules"
are being applied to generate these blanket exclusions.<br>
<br>
Regards, Tony Bailey<br>
<br>
On 27/09/14 17:18, Ian Hickling wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">Alan - I don't recognise most of the scenario
you describe here as being the UK Regulation system that
we're working in today.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Protection Ratios set up by IBA and RA were
adopted by the ITU 50 years ago and are unlikely to change?<br>
Not really indicative of any positive progress then.</div>
<div dir="ltr">In my experience Ofcom doesn't do much on an
"ad hoc" basis - quite the opposite.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Commercial operators and indeed all licensed
broadcasters are more than adequately protected in technical
terms and all expect signal corruption on occasions when
it's caused by unavoidable atmospheric conditions.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Enhancement of coverage by any broadcaster is
not easy - and is approached by Ofcom on a low-priority and
individual merit basis - unless of course pressure is
brought to bear.</div>
<div dir="ltr">I would think we can all quote examples of that
apparently happening.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Commercial stations had power and frequency
allocated in exactly the same was as is used for Community
Radio - desired coverage against regional spectral
occupancy.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Standalone or mini-mux DAB is a long way off
and should not be offered as an excuse for not dealing with
the present and very real need for a seed-change in spectrum
manipulation for best efficiency.</div>
<div dir="ltr">There are scores of local stations out there
which are ready to go on air and around half of them will be
refused for what appear to be insecure and what we are told
are incontestable reasons.</div>
<div dir="ltr">This is not the form of Democracy that we
should expect from a UK Government and its Agencies.</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<div>
<hr id="ecxyiv242569728ecxstopSpelling">From: <a rel="nofollow" class="ecxyiv242569728moz-txt-link-abbreviated" target="_blank" href="mailto:alan.coote@5digital.co.uk">alan.coote@5digital.co.uk</a><br>
To: <a rel="nofollow" class="ecxyiv242569728moz-txt-link-abbreviated" target="_blank" href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk</a>; <a rel="nofollow" class="ecxyiv242569728moz-txt-link-abbreviated" target="_blank" href="mailto:info@a-bc.co.uk">info@a-bc.co.uk</a><br>
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:06:28 +0100<br>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Community Radio on AM<br>
<br>
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<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><a rel="nofollow" name="_MailEndCompose" href="https://" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">The
FM protection ratios were set up using a specs’
based on the selectivity and sensitivity of radios
in the 60s. The IBA, Radio Authority and Ofcom
planned licences based on their analysis of
available frequencies using this spec’. It became
an ITU standard so is very unlikely to change.
</span></a></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Fitting
new stations on an ad-hoc basis has the danger of
commercial operators being disadvantaged through
interference, however occasional. </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Picking
up Nick’s point about Silk FM getting more power,
this has happened numerous times around the UK. It’s
because commercial stations are licenced to use a
preallocated and cleared frequency by Ofcom. Should
a licenced station make a case that either Ofcom’s
analysis was wrong, or over time the area has
changed, then Ofcom will need to reflect that by
permitting changes to the coverage.</span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">This
is of course a totally different scenario from the
way community stations start life. </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">At
the end of the day Ofcom is full of people whose job
it is to run things by the rules. There is
absolutely no advantage to them doing otherwise. </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">In
my view a better baton to wave is for access to DAB
via standalone stations – here the rules aren’t even
set. </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Kind
Regards</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"></span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;">Alan</span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
<div class="ecxyiv242569728ecxMsoNormal"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.letstalkbusinessonline.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Hear
Alan Every Week on Let’s Talk Business The UK’s
Premier Radio Programme For Current and Future
Entrepreneurs - Now Broadcast To 4.3 Million
People </span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"> </span></div>
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- </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:alan.coote@5digital.co.uk"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">alan.coote@5digital.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;"></span></div>
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