Consultation on Ofcom document, Radio - Preparing for the Future

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) – which (along with other roles) regulates non-BBC radio services in the UK -- has set out proposals on the regulation of radio. The consultation period ended on 7 March 2005.

The Radio Studies Network Steering Group made a response on behalf of the Network. The full text is available here .

Ofcom's questions for response were:-

1. Do you agree with our proposals to use formats as the primary tool of regulation for analogue commercial local radio?

2. How do you think the objective of ensuring the provision on commercial local radio of a high quality news service, including local and national news, is best achieved?
· Should stations be allowed to use news hubs to allow them to operate in the most operationally effective way?
· Do you agree that we should include a statement in the localness guidelines to the effect that, in order to provide a comprehensive local news service, each station must provide direct and accountable editorial responsibility, based within the licensed area, for the provision of a news service equivalent at least to full time professional journalist cover for all of the hours during which its licensed format specifies that it will provide local news programmes?
· Is there a better way to achieve the objective that focuses more on output rather than input regulation?

3. Should stations be allowed to decide for themselves how much programming they automate?

4. Should the requirement for a station’s studios to be based within the measured coverage area be relaxed to require the station to be based within the licensed area?

5. Do you agree that a station’s local hours, as defined by its format, should include local material, but that, outside of these hours, stations should be free to share material with other stations on a network basis as they see fit?

6. Do you agree that each station should be required to maintain a format and localness file, available both at its premises and online, which demonstrates how it is meeting its obligations?

7. Do you agree with our revised localness guidance, which sets out the factors stations should take into account in providing local programming?

Secondly, how can we best facilitate the growth of digital radio? We would welcome views on the following questions:

8. Do you agree with our proposals to allocate more spectrum in VHF Band III for DAB-compatible use (subject to spectrum clearance and international agreement) in the following way:
· Three blocks to provide local multiplexes to those areas which currently do not have their own local multiplex and some areas which already have local multiplexes?
· One or two blocks for national coverage (depending upon whether four or five blocks of spectrum are available in total)?

9. Do you agree that the proposed local DAB digital radio multiplexes should be awarded as Broadcasting Act licences?

10. Do you agree that the frequency blocks proposed to be allocated to national coverage should be awarded under the terms of the Wireless Telegraphy Act only

(i.e. without the need for a Broadcasting Act licence)?

11. What demand do you envisage there being for nationally-allocated DAB-compatible spectrum?

12. Do you think the limit on non-programme related data carried on each commercial DAB digital radio multiplex should be raised from the current limit of 20%? If so, what should the limit be raised to? What do you envisage extra capacity would be used for?

13. Do you think the limit on non-programme related data (including radio) carried on each commercial digital terrestrial television multiplex should be raised from the current limit of 10%? If so, what should the limit be raised to?

14. Do you agree with the proposal to abolish the minimum bit-rate limit for DAB digital radio and replace it with a co-regulatory system akin to that applied in television for picture quality?

Thirdly, in terms of future licensing:

15. How should Ofcom allocate further MW (AM) frequencies between commercial and community radio?

16. How might we accommodate the advertisement of new commercial MW licences into our existing FM licensing plans?

For consideration in phase 2 of this review, we would like to raise questions about the overall strategic framework for radio, both commercial and public sector, and the public purposes of radio. We would welcome views on the following:

17. Do you agree with the proposed strategic framework for the future regulation of radio, which aims:
· To enhance choice, diversity and innovation for consumers at the UK, national, regional, local and community levels.
· To secure citizens’ interests through the provision of radio designed to meet public purposes.
· To do this with as little intervention in the market as possible, consistent with meeting our objectives, in a way that is as consistent as possible across media and across platforms.

18. How important do you think it is to develop a set of public purposes for radio and what should those public purposes be? -Is the set of public purposes already developed for television a useful starting point? -What else should be added or what should be taken away?
-What is the relative importance of the different elements?
-Are there things that are better delivered by radio than other media?

19. To the extent that it is possible to comment at this stage, how do you think those public purposes are best delivered?
· How important is plurality of provision of the public purposes for radio?
· How much of what commercial radio currently does could be classified as meeting public purposes?
· How well does the current market structure help fulfil public purposes in radio?
· Should the BBC’s radio archive be made available more widely to commercial players to provide alternative radio services?