©Ofcom

Licensing Community Radio

Lawrie Hallett: communityradio@ofcom.org.uk

[August 2004]

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers….

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

• Coverage & Frequency Availability

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

• Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Licensing Community Stations

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

• Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Licensing Community Stations

• Licensing Restrictions

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

• Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Licensing Community Stations

• Licensing Restrictions

• This year’s deadline!

©Ofcom

What this presentation covers

• The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• What Ofcom Must Consider

• Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Licensing Community Stations

• Licensing Restrictions

• This year’s deadline!

• More Information…

©Ofcom

The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom licenses Community Radio under the Community Radio Order 2004

©Ofcom

The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom licenses Community Radio under the Community Radio Order 2004

• The Order reflects responses to the DCMS consultation of earlier this year

©Ofcom

The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom licenses Community Radio under the Community Radio Order 2004

• The Order reflects responses to the DCMS consultation of earlier this year

• Government defines Community Radio through this Order

©Ofcom

The Community Radio Order

• Ofcom licenses Community Radio under the Community Radio Order 2004

• The Order reflects responses to the DCMS consultation of earlier this year

• Government defines Community Radio through this Order

• Ofcom can only license Community Radio services under the terms of this Order

©Ofcom

Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• Ofcom will consider a number of factors when evaluating licence applications…

©Ofcom

Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• Ofcom will consider a number of factors when evaluating licence applications…

1. The requirements of the Community Radio Order 2004

©Ofcom

Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• Ofcom will consider a number of factors when evaluating licence applications…

1. The requirements of the Community Radio Order 2004

2. Other relevant broadcasting legislation

©Ofcom

Ofcom’s Approach To Licensing

• Ofcom will consider a number of factors when evaluating licence applications…

1. The requirements of the Community Radio Order 2004

2. Other relevant broadcasting legislation

3. The availability of suitable frequency resources

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum not suitable for use by commercial services

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum not suitable for use by commercial services

• In general these frequencies will cover areas of up to a 5 km radius

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum which is not suitable for use by commercial services

• In general these frequencies will cover areas of up to a 5 km radius

• In some remote rural areas wider FM coverage may be allowed

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum which is not suitable for use by commercial services

• In general these frequency allocations will cover areas of less than a 5 km radius

• In some remote rural areas wider FM coverage may be allowed

• AM services may be allowed to cover a greater than 5 km radius

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum which is not suitable for use by commercial services

• In general these frequency allocations will cover areas of less than a 5 km radius

• In some remote rural areas wider coverage using FM frequencies may be allowed

• AM services may be allowed to cover a greater than 5 km radius

• Ofcom may allow services to use more than one transmitter if technically efficient

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• Ofcom has to balance competing demands for broadcast spectrum

• Ofcom will allocate spectrum which is not suitable for use by commercial services

• In general these frequency allocations will cover areas of less than a 5 km radius

• In some remote rural areas wider coverage using FM frequencies may be allowed

• AM services may be allowed to cover a greater than 5 km radius

• Ofcom may allow services to use more than one transmitter if technically efficient

• BUT…..

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• There will not be enough frequency resources to license all applicants!

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• So…

©Ofcom

Coverage & Frequency Availability

• So…

• Ofcom will use statutory selection criteria to choose between competing groups…

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• In any event….

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• In any event….

• All Community Radio services need to meet the requirements of the Community Radio Order and other relevant broadcasting legislation.

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• In any event….

• All Community Radio services need to meet the requirements of the Community Radio Order and other relevant broadcasting legislation.

• Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

(i) Be provided for the benefit of the public rather than for commercial reasons or to benefit those operating the service

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

(i) Be provided for the benefit of the public rather than for commercial reasons or to benefit those operating the service

(ii) Be aimed at a specific community or number of communities

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

(i) Be provided for the benefit of the public rather than to benefit those operating the service

(ii) Be aimed at a specific community or number of communities

(iii) Use any profits made to improve the service provided and deliver ‘social gain’

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

(i) Be provided for the benefit of the public rather than to benefit those operating the service

(ii) Be aimed at a specific community or number of communities

(iii) Use any profits made to improve the service provided and deliver ‘social gain’

(iv) Allow community members the opportunity to participate in the operation and management of the service

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

Specifically, Community Radio stations must demonstrate certain characteristics:

(i) Be provided for the benefit of the public rather than to benefit those operating the service

(ii) Be aimed at a specific community or number of communities

(iii) Use any profits made to improve the service provided and deliver ‘social gain’

(iv) Allow community members the opportunity to participate in the operation and management of the service

(v) Be accountable to the target community

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Ofcom has to take various statutory selection criteria into account when assessing applications:

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Ofcom has to take various statutory selection criteria into account whenassessing applications:

(i) Maintaining the service

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Ofcom has to take various statutory selection criteria into account whenassessing applications:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Ofcom has to take various statutory selection criteria into account whenassessing applications:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

(iii) Broadening the range of local programming available and being distinct from other local (commercial) radio

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Community Radio stations must meet various statutory selection criteria:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

(iii) Extending the range of local programming available

(iv) Demonstrating demand for the service

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Community Radio stations must meet various statutory selection criteria:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

(iii) Extending the range of local programming available

(iv) Demonstrating demand for the service

(v) Extent of delivering ‘social gain’

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Community Radio stations must meet various statutory selection criteria:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

(iii) Extending the range of local programming available

(iv) Demonstrating demand for the service

(v) Extent of delivering ‘social gain’

(vi) Accountability provisions

©Ofcom

Licensing Community Stations

• Community Radio stations must meet various statutory selection criteria:

(i) Maintaining the service

(ii) Catering for the tastes and interests of the relevant community

(iii) Extending the range of local programming available

(iv) Demonstrating demand for the service

(v) Extent of delivering ‘social gain’

(vi) Extent of accountability

(vii) Extent of access to facilities and of training provision

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• Ofcom has a general obligation to ensure that community radio services do not “prejudice unduly” the economic viability of existing local radio services

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• Ofcom has a general obligation to ensure that community radio services do not “prejudice unduly” the economic viability of existing local radio services

• In addition, the Community Radio Order 2004 includes two specific tiers of restrictions covering areas where small scale stations already exist

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• Ofcom has a general obligation to ensure that community radio services to not “prejudice unduly” the economic viability of existing local radio services

• In addition, the Community Radio Order 2004 includes two specific tiers of restrictions covering areas where small scale stations already exist:

(i) Areas where the existing service broadcasts to a measured population of up to 50,000 adults (15+)

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• Ofcom has a general obligation to ensure that community radio services to not “prejudice unduly” the economic viability of existing local radio services

• In addition, the Community Radio Order 2004 includes two specific tiers of restrictions covering areas where small scale stations already exist:

(i) Areas where an existing service broadcasts to a measured population of up to 50,000 adults (15+)

(ii) Areas where an existing service broadcasts to a measured population of between 50,001 and 150,000 adults (15+)

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to fewer than 50,000 adults, the Community Radio Order does not permit Ofcom to license any Community Radio services.

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to fewer than 50,000 adults, the Community Radio Order does not permit Ofcom to license any Community Radio services

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to an adult population of between 50,001 and 150,000, the Community Radio Order only allows Ofcom to license Community Radio services which do not broadcast paid for spot-advertising or sponsored programming

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to fewer than 50,000 adults, the Community Radio Order does not permit Ofcom to license any Community Radio services

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to an adult population of between 50,001 and 150,000, the Community Radio Order only allows Ofcom to license Community Radio services which do not broadcast paid for spot-advertising or sponsored programming

• However – these restrictions only apply where the overlap between the two services involved is greater than 50% (in population terms)

©Ofcom

Licensing Restrictions

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to fewer than 50,000 adults, the Community Radio Order does not permit Ofcom to license any Community Radio services

• In areas where an existing service broadcasts to an adult population of between 50,001 and 150,000, the Community Radio Order only allows Ofcom to license Community Radio services which do not broadcast paid for spot-advertising or sponsored programming

• However – these restrictions only apply where the overlap between the two services involved is greater than 50% (in population terms)

• Otherwise, Ofcom’s general duty to consider the economic impacts of licensing new services will apply just as in all other cases

©Ofcom

This Year’s Deadline!

Applications will only be considered once the application window has closed, so there is no advantage in applying early…

©Ofcom

This Year’s Deadline!

Applications will only be considered once the application window has closed, so there is no advantage in applying early…

HOWEVER: Applications MUST be received by Ofcom no later than 5.00PM on Tuesday 23rd November

©Ofcom

This Year’s Deadline!

Applications will only be considered once the application window has closed, so there is no advantage in applying early…

HOWEVER: Applications MUST be received by Ofcom no later than 5.00PM on Tuesday 23rd November

The application form can be downloaded from the Ofcom web-site, completed and then e-mailed back to: communityradio@ofcom.org.uk

©Ofcom

This Year’s Deadline!

Applications will only be considered once the application window has closed, so there is no advantage in applying early…

HOWEVER: Applications MUST be received by Ofcom no later than 5.00PM on Tuesday 23rd November

The application form can be downloaded from the Ofcom web-site, completed and then e-mailed back to: communityradio@ofcom.org.uk

The non-refundable application fee (£600:00) must also be received by this time…

©Ofcom

This Year’s Deadline!

Applications will only be considered once the application window has closed, so there is no advantage in applying early…

HOWEVER: Applications MUST be received by Ofcom no later than 5.00PM on Tuesday 23rd November

The application form can be downloaded from the Ofcom web-site, completed and then e-mailed back to: communityradio@ofcom.org.uk

The non-refundable application fee (£600:00) must also be received by this time…

Late applications will almost certainly be rejected!

©Ofcom

More Information

• Notes of Guidance For Community Radio Licence Applicants

©Ofcom

More Information

• Notes of Guidance For Community Radio Licence Applicants

• Notes to Help Complete the Community Radio Application Form

©Ofcom

More Information

• Notes of Guidance For Community Radio Licence Applicants

• Notes to Help Complete the Community Radio Application Form

• Ofcom’s Statement: Licensing Community Radio

©Ofcom

More Information

• Notes of Guidance For Community Radio Licence Applicants

• Notes to Help Complete the Community Radio Application Form

• Ofcom’s Statement: Licensing Community Radio

• Each of which is available from Ofcom’s Website at:

www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing_numbering/radio_sound_broadcasting/community_radio

©Ofcom

More Information

• Notes of Guidance For Community Radio Licence Applicants

• Notes to Help Complete the Community Radio Application Form

• Ofcom’s Statement: Licensing Community Radio

• Each of which is available from Ofcom’s Website at:

www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing_numbering/radio_sound_broadcasting/community_radio

• Specific enquiries can be sent via e-mail to:

communityradio@ofcom.org.uk