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Hi All
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As someone who worked for/with Ofcom on Licensing Community Radio stations I could probably answer most, if not all, of your questions, including busting a few myths.
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Part of the problem in me doing this is that over the years the same questions keep coming up, been answered and then come up again.
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Like many others on here, I also work as a Consultant and would, where possible, prefer to be paid for my work. That said, the information and experience that I have is not secret. My credentials as a supporter of Community Radio (over 30 years) are impeccable and I will always try to help if I can. 
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What I will say is that people should try to stop viewing Ofcom as if it is conspiring against you (station/group/region) personally. The Power to make significant change lies within DCMS. 
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Kind regards
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Donald McTernan
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<!-- <![endif] --> On 05 February 2015 at 17:33 Two Lochs Radio <tlr@gairloch.co.uk> wrote:
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Did Ofcom actually refuse to reply in writing to the FOI request? If so, what were the formal grounds for refusal?</span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I agree that the process and its criteria should be open, and it's hard to see convincing reasons for why it shouldn't be. They are guardians of a very scarce public property - FM spectrum, and should be using open and objective criteria to grant its use.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Alex</span>
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<strong>From:</strong>
<a href="mailto:alan.coote@5digital.co.uk">Alan Coote</a>
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<strong>To:</strong>
<a href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">'The Community Media Association Discussion List'</a>
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<strong>Sent:</strong> Thursday, February 05, 2015 5:17 PM
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<strong>Subject:</strong> Re: [cma-l] Officialdom
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"></a><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">I asked Ofcom to explain their scoring process by way of a Freedom of Information Request.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">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’s difficult to see how this is the case.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">It’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’s decision is final, there are no appeals and they are not transparent. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Most people, I think would find that undemocratic.   </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Alan</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk] <strong>On Behalf Of </strong>David Duffy<br /><strong>Sent:</strong> 05 February 2015 16:07<br /><strong>To:</strong> Ian Hickling<br /><strong>Cc:</strong> The Community Media Association Discussion List<br /><strong>Subject:</strong> Re: [cma-l] Officialdom</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I think that’s an excellent idea. All in the spirit of ‘open government'.  One for Dom and Ed to discuss over a slice of cake I feel.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">David</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 5 Feb 2015, at 13:57, Ian Hickling <<a href="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com">transplanfm@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="MsoNormal"><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?</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">From:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </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"> </span><a href="mailto:cma@nnbc.co.uk">cma@nnbc.co.uk</a><br />CC:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk</a><br />Subject: Re: [cma-l] Officialdom</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">It would be interesting to hear a summary of people’s experience on this as there is no published process.</span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><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).  </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">We understand the application is broken into various sections and 'farmed out’ to specialists in each area. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">We can’t identify any discernible order that Ofcom use for prioritising which applications to look at from a region. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">If Ofcom has a query regarding anything in your application they will invariably email you.  Our experience is that their questions are not worded particularly well (this could be intentional).  So be careful how you answer them - don’t offer more that they are asking or you could dig yourself into a hole!</span></li>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">In short, that’s our experience on behalf of our clients.  Anyone else?</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">David</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The Radio People</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br /><240 x 240 copy.jpg></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br />Email:        <a href="mailto:david@theradiopeople.co.uk">david@theradiopeople.co.uk</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Website:    <a target="_blank" href="http://theradiopeople.co.uk/">www.theradiopeople.co.uk</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Twitter:      <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/theradiopeople">@theradiopeople</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Facebook:<span style="color: #5f86ff;"> </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk">facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">On 5 Feb 2015, at 10:07, Terry Doyle <<a href="mailto:cma@nnbc.co.uk">cma@nnbc.co.uk</a>> wrote:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Hi All,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<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!) </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<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. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Why am I asking this? Oh just curious! </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Terry Doyle </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">NNBC, Northampton</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">_______________________________________________<br /><br />Reply -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </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"> </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><br />Twitter:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/community_media">http://twitter.com/community_media</a><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation">http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a><br />Canstream Internet Radio & Video:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </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"> </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></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br /><br />_______________________________________________ Reply -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Twitter:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </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"> </span>Canstream Internet Radio & Video:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.canstream.co.uk/">http://www.canstream.co.uk/</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>_______________________________________________ Mailing list guidelines:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </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"> </span><a href="http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l">http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l</a></span></p>
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