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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Ooops only just seen this …. However,
if you take my ramblings and plonk it alongside this report (well done Bill and
Dom) even though unorthodox, we ain’t a millions miles away <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Key words / sentences pop up though don’t
you think ? :-<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Lack of funding<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Lack of assistance<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Lack of understanding<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Bureaucracy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>More Bureaucracy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Even more Bureaucracy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Community Radio actually doing very well under difficult
circumstances<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Circumstances that can be changed if someone in authority has got
the ….*****….. to stand up and be counted<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>9)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Even Ofcoms job is unworkable<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>10)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Major key word <> DEBACLE<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I rest my case …. Oh I forgot, I did
that ten years ago and here we are still talking instead of doing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Nick<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk</st1:PersonName>
[mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk</st1:PersonName>]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>CMA-L<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 18 November 2014 11:58<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> cma-l@commedia.org.uk<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [cma-l] Ofcom to
investigate over 50 community radio stations</span></font><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The CMA has issued a
statement below in response to yesterday's news that Ofcom intends to
investigate more than 50 community radio stations:<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://media.info/radio/news/ofcom-to-investigate-over-50-community-radio-stations"
target="_blank">http://media.info/radio/news/ofcom-to-investigate-over-50-community-radio-stations</a><br>
<br>
\\<br>
<br>
Whilst it is of significant concern that 53 community radio stations are to be
investigated by Ofcom to determine if those stations have breached their key
commitments, it is important to note that such an investigation does not imply
that the broadcaster is automatically in breach. Not all investigations result
in breaches of the licence or other regulatory requirements being recorded.<br>
<br>
The Community Media Association (CMA) cannot comment on the details of any
individual station in public as we would not wish to prejudice or otherwise
pre-empt the outcome of any investigation. However a community radio station
and CMA member under investigation has advised us:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:30.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"When responding to the investigation, we realised that we had in
fact over-delivered on the key commitments in question. Our reason for ticking
‘no’ was because we felt that our work had not fitted the exact
wording".<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
Bill Best, Operations Manager of the CMA:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:30.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“A number of stations that we have counselled informed us that
they had misunderstood the reporting form and checked the wrong box in error.
Furthermore, it is possible that some stations have not offset volunteer hours
against advertising and sponsorship, and might appear to be in breach of the
50% restriction. We urge all member stations to contact the CMA if they require
assistance with the Annual Return. The CMA looks to Ofcom for further guidance
on this matter which we will disseminate to the sector”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
CMA members report that Ofcom is usually sympathetic to the issues that
stations face when working to address potential shortfalls in their Annual
Report. Previously the Community Radio Team has assisted stations to more
accurately redraft their key commitments where targets may have been
over-estimated, and the CMA expects that Ofcom will continue to support the
sector in this regard. The CMA fully supports the role of Ofcom as the
regulator in ensuring that social gain, as defined in the Community Radio Order
2004, remains at the core of community radio broadcasting.<br>
<br>
In spite of an unprecedented adverse economic situation community radio
continues to do an outstanding job in delivering social gain outcomes with
minimal central funding - and any issues with compliance reporting should be
understood within that context.<br>
<br>
Community radio stations are working with very few resources to hand and no
formal training on completing the Annual Report. The CMA calls for the
Community Radio Fund to be enhanced in order to make funding available to
support the education of community radio stations around compliance issues and
best practice.<br>
<br>
Ofcom’s Communications Market Report 2014 advises that over the past five
years, the average income for community radio has fallen from £84,000 to
£55,500 per year. This represents a 33.9% decline over the period. Median
income (the value at the mid-point in the distribution of incomes) now stands
at £33,250 per year, a decline of 5.6% in the last year.<br>
<br>
However over a full broadcast week of 168 hours, a typical community radio
station broadcasts live for 78 hours, with an average 90 hours per week of
originally-produced output. Speech output averages 30% of daytime output and
the average station works with 82 volunteers.<br>
<br>
Dom Chambers, Chair of the Community Media Association:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='margin-left:30.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“It is a matter of great concern that around one quarter of
community radio licensees are being investigated by the regulator in the area
of key commitments. I know what extraordinary levels of social impact are
achieved in our sector so we need to analyse where there are shortfalls in
getting that information back to the licence regulator. Ofcom investigations
can be very demoralising to those operating from a volunteer base. I am also
concerned at the length of time it has taken for these investigations to come
to light nor that this was brought up in our last quarterly meeting. As one who
has filed five annual returns on behalf of a licensee I very much look forward
to discussing this situation with Ofcom as CMA chair when we attend our next
meeting in December.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Notes:</span></b><br>
<br>
Information on community radio regulatory issues including guidance on
volunteer input, changes to stations’ key commitments and details on
complaints may be found on the Ofcom website here:<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/community/regulations/"
target="_blank">http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/community/regulations/</a><br>
<br>
\\<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Community Media Association<font color="#888888"><span
style='color:#888888'><br>
-- </span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#888888" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#888888'><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk"
target="_blank">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><br>
<a href="https://twitter.com/community_media" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/community_media</a><br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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