LONDON, Feb. 5, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Communications Act 2003 requires Ofcom to award licences for FM commercial radio services in open competition based on statutory criteria. Previously this duty was undertaken by the Radio Authority.
Ofcom is today publishing its proposals for the process for licensing new FM commercial radio services. These form part of Ofcom's broader strategy toward the radio sector which will be developed during 2004, including:
- A new approach to Community Radio, to be set out in separate
proposals later this month. Community Radio will build on radio's
potential for giving local communities a stronger voice.
- A review of digital radio, examining the options for further and
faster take-up of all digital radio services.
- Continued support for Restricted Services Licences (RSLs), which
give hundreds of organisations each year the opportunity to go on
air.
- New guidance on localness in radio.
The key proposals published by Ofcom today are as follows:
Firstly, a simpler, clearer process to apply for a licence, including:
- Clear guidance on how the statutory criteria relating to a
particular licence will apply.
- A timetable for the licences to be offered over the year ahead.
- More information available to applicants when a licence is
offered, including an analysis of the relevant market.
- A reduction in the amount of information that applicants need
to send to Ofcom, with a better focus on providing the
information which matters.
- A simpler approach to content regulation by inviting applicants
to submit their own format - a summary of a station's proposed
style and character. The format of the winning applicant will
be included in their licence terms.
Secondly, new proposals for the FM licences that will be offered by Ofcom in the next two years:
- In total at least 35 commercial FM licences remain available
for licensing.
- These include potential licences not identified before, in
Bournemouth and in Stoke-on Trent.
Ofcom is also seeking views on options for offering either larger regional licences or a greater number of smaller licences, in four areas of the UK:
- North-East England - South Wales - South-West England; and, - South Hampshire/Bournemouth
Decisions on radio licence awards will be made by a Committee of the Ofcom Main Board; further details of the decision-making process are set out in the consultation document.
The full consultation document, together with a Summary, is available on Ofcom's website at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/ Responses are invited by 11 March 2004.
Ofcom intends to resume licensing as soon as possible. The regulator proposes to publish shortly a timetable for the first licences to be offered under the new process in order to give potential applicants the necessary time to prepare proposals.
This timetable will be prepared on the basis of the proposals in the consultation document, but will be without prejudice to the results of the consultation. The first advertisements of new radio licences under the new process are planned for May/June 2004.
NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs
Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
Our duties include:
- The promotion of choice, quality and value in electronic
communications services, where appropriate by encouraging
competition between the providers of those services
- Ensuring the most efficient use of the radio communications
spectrum - the airwaves used for the transmission of all
non-military wireless communications services
- Ensuring a wide range of electronic communications services,
including broadband, is available across the UK
- Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio programmes of high quality
and wide appeal
- Maintaining plurality in the media by ensuring a sufficiently
broad range of ownership
- The protection of audiences against offensive or harmful
material, unfairness or the infringement of privacy on TV and
radio
For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk.
This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange