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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I asked Ofcom to explain their scoring process by way of a Freedom of Information Request.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This created quite a bit of excitement in Ofcom and many phone calls. They were more than happy to talk over the phone but not answer in writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have long believed that the process is floored because it is not repeatable. For example if you send in two averagely good and identical applications they should arrive at the same result, but it&#8217;s difficult to see how this is the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It&#8217;s normal in government contracts to know the criteria and scoring scheme prior to application. Without this Government would open themselves up to litigation. Ofcom&#8217;s decision is final, there are no appeals and they are not transparent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Most people, I think would find that undemocratic. &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kind Regards</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Alan<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Duffy<br><b>Sent:</b> 05 February 2015 16:07<br><b>To:</b> Ian Hickling<br><b>Cc:</b> The Community Media Association Discussion List<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [cma-l] Officialdom<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I think that&#8217;s an excellent idea. All in the spirit of &#8216;open government'. &nbsp;One for Dom and Ed to discuss over a slice of cake I feel.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>David<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 5 Feb 2015, at 13:57, Ian Hickling &lt;<a href="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com">transplanfm@hotmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Maybe we should formally ask to be shown the procedure - as it has a very direct effect on Applicants' businesses?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center id=stopSpelling></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:david@theradiopeople.co.uk">david@theradiopeople.co.uk</a><br>Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2015 11:08:49 +0000<br>To:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:cma@nnbc.co.uk">cma@nnbc.co.uk</a><br>CC:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk</a><br>Subject: Re: [cma-l] Officialdom<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>It would be interesting to hear a summary of people&#8217;s experience on this as there is no published process.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>As we all know, the list of applicants is first published followed, a few days later, by the application documents (once the confidential sections have been redacted). &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>We understand the application is broken into various sections and 'farmed out&#8217; to specialists in each area.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>We can&#8217;t identify any discernible order that Ofcom use for prioritising which applications to look at from a region.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>If Ofcom has a query regarding anything in your application they will invariably email you. &nbsp;Our experience is that their questions are not worded particularly well (this could be intentional). &nbsp;So be careful how you answer them - don&#8217;t offer more that they are asking or you could dig yourself into a hole!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>In short, that&#8217;s our experience on behalf of our clients. &nbsp;Anyone else?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>David<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The Radio People<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br>&lt;240 x 240 copy.jpg&gt;<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br>Email: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="mailto:david@theradiopeople.co.uk">david@theradiopeople.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Website: &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://theradiopeople.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.theradiopeople.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Twitter: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/theradiopeople" target="_blank">@theradiopeople</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Facebook:<span style='color:#5F86FF'>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk" target="_blank">facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>On 5 Feb 2015, at 10:07, Terry Doyle &lt;<a href="mailto:cma@nnbc.co.uk">cma@nnbc.co.uk</a>&gt; wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Hi All,<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Can anyone provide me with some information on how those OFCOM process community licence applications they've received... or is subject to the Official Secrets Act (shoot me now!)&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Just spoke to and 'representative' and boy do they know how to 'answer' probing questions without 'answering' probing questions.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Why am I asking this? Oh just curious!&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Terry Doyle&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>NNBC, Northampton<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>_______________________________________________<br><br>Reply -<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><br><br>The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association -<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><br>Twitter:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://twitter.com/community_media" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/community_media</a><br><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a><br>Canstream Internet Radio &amp; Video:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.canstream.co.uk/">http://www.canstream.co.uk/</a><br>_______________________________________________<br><br>Mailing list guidelines:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/">http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/</a><br>_______________________________________________<br><br>To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<br><a href="http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l">http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><br><br>_______________________________________________ Reply -<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span>The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association -<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span>Twitter:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://twitter.com/community_media">http://twitter.com/community_media</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation">http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span>Canstream Internet Radio &amp; Video:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.canstream.co.uk/">http://www.canstream.co.uk/</a><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span>_______________________________________________ Mailing list guidelines:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/">http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/</a>_______________________________________________ To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;</span><a href="http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l">http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/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