[CMA R] Public Consultation: Modifications to Spectrum Pricing

[Michelle McGuire]

[Apologies for cross posting]

+ Ofcom Public Consultation:  Modifications to Spectrum Pricing

Closing date: 15|09|2006

-

This consultation concerns a set of proposals to add or modify some  
licence charges under the Wireless Telegraphy Act (the “WT Act”).  
Current proposals relate both to Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP)  
and charging to ensure spectrum management costs are covered for each  
type of services. There is a significant opportunity in this  
consultation for Community Radio because it proposes a lower, annual  
flat rate for licences issued to Community Radio, see Section 6:

6.1 Community Radio is licensed under both the Broadcasting Act and  
under the Wireless Telegraphy Act. These proposals only relate to the  
latter. The current charge for WT Act licence fees for community  
radio, based on population coverage and waveband, is set by  
regulation to be the same basis as national and regional radio  
broadcasting licences. That is as follows:

FM

* £339 for a minimum coverage area (MCA) of fewer than 100k adults.

* For MCAs of more than 100k adults, £509 for every 100k adults.

AM

* £226 for an MCA of fewer than 100k adults.

* For MCAs of more than 100k adults, £339 for every 100k adults.

6.2 In the interests of greater simplicity and to avoid community  
radio services in urban areas (especially those broadcasting on the  
AM (medium wave) band) being charged disproportionately more for  
their WT Act licences than services in non-urban areas, Ofcom  
proposes to revise the charge such that there will be a flat fee of  
£250 per annum charged for each WT Act licence issued to community  
radio broadcasters. The same fee will apply to all licensees (i.e.  
the tariff will be waveband neutral). This rate will be sufficient to  
make a reasonable contribution towards the cost of licensing these  
services and to the relatively small coverage and bandwidths involved  
when compared with other spectrum usage.

Question 6) Do you agree with these proposals for simplifying the fee  
for Community Radio?

+++ This is the question that the Community Radio sector needs to  
support within this consultation.


Further information about this consultation and how to submit a  
response is available on the Ofcom website:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/pricing06/




Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine
Communications Officer
http://www.commedia.org.uk
--


Community Media Association
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