<div dir="ltr">It's rather informative to read the impact assessment - copied below (shame Ofcom can't use spell-check!). By their own admission have gone for modest change. Personally the rebel in me would have gone for option 4 - commercial can still be community - I've seen it first hand in Ireland in the 1980's. Instead we are left with BBC, Semi-National and Shoestring radio. I see a real and ongoing gap for local/community radio.<div><br></div><div>Glyn Roylance</div><div>Principal Consultant</div><div><a href="http://a-bc.co.uk">Associated Broadcast Consultants</a><br><div><br></div><div><div><i>What policy options have been considered, including any alternatives to regulation? Please justify</i></div><div><i>preferred option (further details in Evidence Base)</i></div><div><i>1. Do Nothing - This would not address the issue identified</i></div><div><i>2. Modest change - (i) provide Ofcom with power to remove the absolute restriction on advertising and</i></div><div><i>sponsorship where the local commercial station has rationalised local production (ii) providing all community</i></div><div><i>stations with a disregard of up to £15,000 and where applicable before applying the 50% rule on advertising</i></div><div><i>and sponsorship and (iii) allow Ofcom to extend Community Radio licences for a third 5 year term.</i></div><div><i>3. More radical change - (i) remove the absolute rule and (ii) allow 60% of income to be funded by</i></div><div><i>advertising and sponsorship</i></div><div><i>4. Full deregulation - Not considered as it would turn community radio into commercial radio undermining</i></div><div><i>wider policy goals. Option 2 is the prefered option</i></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div>
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