Ofcom awards 21 community radio licences

Source: Ofcom 2006-02-16

News Index

Ofcom today announces the award of a further 21 new community radio licences, bringing the total number of community radio licences awarded to date to 84.

Ofcom has sought to overcome the shortage of suitable FM frequencies for community radio services in and around London by varying the technical specifications usually used. As a result, two of the licences (in Stonebridge and Bexleyheath) are being offered to broadcast in mono on FM instead of stereo. Broadcasting in mono should help to reduce interference which could have made the services unviable.

While the remaining London stations are being awarded frequencies which could broadcast in stereo, we are strongly recommending mono broadcasting for these stations as it will help to maximise their coverage.

For the remaining applications from this first round of the community radio awards process which Ofcom wishes to license on FM, we will first work towards identifying a suitable FM frequency for stereo broadcasting. Where this is not possible, the feasibility of a frequency for use in mono will be explored.

Community radio licences are awarded to the following successful applicants in and around London:

Community radio licence awards elsewhere in the UK:

Applications for the first wave of community radio licences were invited in September 2004. Ofcom received 194 applications and is currently in the process of assessing those applications and examining frequency availability options. The applications can be viewed at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/applications/

Ofcom expects to complete this round of the community radio awards process shortly. Licences are awarded for a five-year period.

A statement setting out the main determining factors for these community radio licence awards will be available shortly from the Ofcom website.

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs

1. In addition to the licence awards detailed above, Ofcom considered six further applications but has decided not to award a licence to these groups. They are:

2. Community radio is a new sector of radio being introduced in the UK. It will become the third tier of radio which will complement the mix of services already provided by the BBC and commercial radio sectors. The characteristics of community radio are distinct from commercial radio in that the services will cover a small geographical area and be provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest.