[CMA R] Target community/ Community of interest

[Richard]

This is my view:

If the station is set up to serve a community of interest.

Allowing community radio seems to be based upon the requirement that
listeners have some rights in relation to training, station operation and
management, and accountability by the providor.

Unless I misunderstand, these rights ought to be enforceable, certainly by
the community of interest.   A right that is, at least to be considered on
merit: for training, management and station operation.

But what if someone, not of the class of people seen as the target
community, is denied these rights?  I mean, is it enough to deny these
rights simply that one is not of the class or is considered to be not of the
class?

I suppose much depends how much autonomy of decision making the government
is giving the station providor, after all, quite a lot of time, effort and
money is coming from the providor. In the end I suppose there is not a lot
that can be done. If people apply for training from the community of
interest and you are not of that class or the station at least says you are
not of that class, what can you do? Nothing.  You might have been shut out,
but that I suppose is the stations government-allowed perogative.

I suppose if there were sufficient of you, you would seek to apply for your
own licence. But of course, I think a town might only get 2 FM community
stations. If the number of licences availble were limitless, then there
would be no potential problem.

As to my questions:

It is my view, that the station would have no obligation to offer training
for males.

It is my view, that the station would have no obligation to provide males
with opportunities to participate in the
operation and management of the station.

It is my view, that the station would have some obligation to be accountable
to the males in the community.

The station can be set up for the sole benefit of the community of interest.

Behind this is an actual real-life situation.  A potential community radio
station proposes that it will take on 12 Christian trainees. And I think it
is *not* breaking the law.



> Okay, whose ballpark is this question in? OFCOM?
>
> > Let's for arguments sake say that the target community or community of
> > interest was all the females in a town.
> >
> > Would that mean that the station has no obligation towards the males in
> that
> > town?
> >
> > I.e.:
> > No training obligation for the males, just the females?
> > No obligation to provide males with opportunities to participate in the
> > operation and management of the station?
> > No obligation to be accountable to the males, only the community the
> station
> > is intended to serve?
> >
> > If this were true, then is there a flaw in the rules?