<div dir="ltr">Dear Jane<div><br></div><div>Thank you for your email.</div><div><br></div><div>Your case has been discussed with Ian O'Neill at DCMS and has also been the subject of a House of Commons debate:<br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150908/halltext/150908h0001.htm#150908h0001.htm_para120" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150908/halltext/150908h0001.htm#150908h0001.htm_para120</a><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>This can also be viewed online here:</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e0cbce54-fda8-44e7-a5bc-850e5399624b" target="_blank">http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e0cbce54-fda8-44e7-a5bc-850e5399624b</a></div><div><br></div><div>In summary, Amanda Milling MP, Cannock Chase, Conservative suggested that Ofcom could invite applications from stations with special circumstances at any time along side the current rounds. This suggestion was made with specific regard to Cannock Radio which was created last year after the regional round for the West Midlands closed.</div><div><br></div><div>Amanda Milling also mentioned a possible Apply-On-Demand system but admitted that this would require more resources but a premium fee could be attached to any on-demand licence application to cover any additional staff which would be required.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, Culture, Communications and Creative Minister Ed Vaizey said he was a fan of community radio and explained the recent history of community radio regulation.</div><div><br></div><div>Mr Vaizey acknowledged the request regarding Cannock Radio but said any change to the system could make the application process even slower - referencing previous rounds where applications were invited from all over the UK at once resulting in some stations having to wait a long time:</div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div><b>"The current system of regional rounds, as developed by Ofcom with the Community Media Association, enables Ofcom to manage the licence process in a way that is fair and equitable to all comers and to manage all the moving parts, as it were, in a particular region. The way in which Ofcom manages that process strikes the right balance between the operational challenges of managing the licensing process and Ofcom’s aim to license a community radio station for every community that meets the criteria. It avoids the situation with earlier rounds where Ofcom initially allowed applications from all over the UK, resulting in a large number of applications being submitted, with many applicants having to wait a long time for their applications to be considered".</b></div></div></blockquote><div><div><br></div><div>The current licensing round is almost complete, at which point, the Minister said, it would be a good time for Ofcom to consider alternative procedures:</div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div><b>"The third licensing round is due to be completed this year, so it is a good time for Ofcom to look at whether changes can be made to the design of the next round to reflect the fact that 230 licensed community radio stations are on air".</b></div></div></blockquote><div><div><br></div><div>In addition, he pointed out that small-scale DAB could be an alternative for Cannock Radio.<br></div><div><br></div></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><div><b>"While I have time, I will quickly mention the role that digital radio can play in the future of community radio, and perhaps in the future of Cannock Radio. We are working on a process to give community radio stations and small independent stations a route through to digital audio broadcasting. The Government make no secret of the fact that we believe that digital radio is the future of radio. Digital radio is growing at a significant rate. As DAB coverage improves significantly between now and 2016, it is important that we put in place a system to allow community stations to migrate on to DAB frequencies, particularly where an FM frequency might not be available".</b></div></div></blockquote><div><div><br></div><div>Finally, Vaizey revealed that a 4th Round of community radio licensing will be announced in 2016:</div></div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><b>"I understand that Ofcom will be announcing details of round 4 in 2016, and I hope that Ofcom will make those details as clear as possible, as soon as possible".</b></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Unfortunately, it would appear that there are insufficient resources for Ofcom to change their current procedures in the immediate future and <span style="font-size:12.8px">at this late stage in Round 3 of licensing it is highly unlikely that they can be changed substantially when Ofcom's </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">small</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> Community Radio Team is engaged with the South-East region applications, some involvement with the </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">small</span><span style="font-size:12.8px">-</span><span style="font-size:12.8px">scale</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">DAB</span><span style="font-size:12.8px"> trial, and the London region and AM licence applications to be opened later on this year.</span></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">However we will continue to raise the issue of Cannock Radio at our next meeting scheduled with DCMS.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Hope that helps and best regards for now</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Bill Best</div><div class="gmail_extra">-- <br clear="all"><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span><div><div><div><div><div>Operations Manager<br></div>Community Media Association<br></div><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk" target="_blank">http://www.commedia.org.uk</a><br></div><div><a href="https://twitter.com/community_media" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/community_media</a><br></div><div><a href="https://facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a><br><br></div><div></div>Canstream Internet Radio<br></div><a href="http://www.canstream.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.canstream.co.uk</a><br></div><a href="https://twitter.com/canstream" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/canstream</a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On 4 February 2016 at 13:01, Cannock Radio <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:office@cannockradio.com" target="_blank">office@cannockradio.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Hi<div>There is no timetable for future licencing rounds despite Ed Vasey promising there would be. We are expanding our station here in Cannock but with no FM on the horizon our future looks bleak.A government that supports local small business well start by letting the community that is crying out for our station to be heard on FM</div><div>Can the CMA help? <br clear="all"><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Jane Hughes (Director)</div><div>Cannock Radio Ltd</div><div>Unit 2 Wynns Venture Center</div><div>Broad Street</div><div>Bridgtown</div><div>Cannock </div><div>Staff</div><div>WS11 0XL</div><div>Office - 01543 622556</div><div>Studio - 01543 622555</div><div>Out of Hours - 07852 462888</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://docs.google.com/a/cannockradio.com/uc?id=0B1S6_2fcUQdIR29xdmU3Z1lwcTA&export=download" width="92" height="96"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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