Funferal

Regulators, DAB and community radio

I mentioned before Christmas the interesting comments of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) on DAB and community radio. Essentially, in a response to a consultation document (issued by the government department responsible for communications) ComReg argued that no special provision should be made for community radio on DAB, as they envisaged community radio staying on the analoge band for the foreseeable future.
This seemed strange and a questionable input by a supposedly – in the neo-liberal manner – objective government agency. So I decided to contact ComReg and ask on what basis they reached this position, and the projected consequences for community radio and DAB. Here’s the text of my query:

In document 04/93 ComReg responds to a Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) consultation on DAB (digital audio broadcasting).
In this document ComReg suggests (section 2.4) that community radio should “continue operating … in the FM band.” In context it appears that ComReg is stating that community radio should not be accommodated under DAB, and that, in particular, the various accommodations of community radio suggested by DCMNR should not be considered.
The reason given is that “there is no reason to believe that the allocation of the FM band for broadcasting will cease in the foreseeable future.” However, the earlier section 2.3, dealing with the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting suggested otherwise. In particular, ComReg talks of ways to encourage “a more rapid phasing out of the analogue network” and notes that “it is uncertain if [at the end of the RRC process] the analogue assignments will remain protected or if analogue assignments will/can be conerted after some transitional phase into digital assignments.”
In this context, I would appreciate a response from ComReg to the following questions:

1. What resources on community radio were available to ComReg in drawing up their response relating to community radio?
2. Did ComReg consult with any outside bodies, such as BCI, or with community stations themselves?
3. What documentary sources were used in drawing up the Commission’s opinion?
4. Does ComReg believe that FM, analogue. broadcasting will continue for the indefinite future?
5. Has ComReg made any proposals, or reached any opinion, regarding the future reallocation of the FM broadcasting band, particularly in the context of its role as a manager of the radio spectrum?
6. Does ComReg have any information or opinion regarding the likely continued popularity and use of FM broadcasting by listeners, in the context of the development of DAB?
7. What impact will the migration of (most) services to DAB have on those stations which remain on FM and which have no outlet on DAB?
8. Has ComReg given any consideration to how community radio might or should be accommodated once FM broadcasting becomes superceded by DAB?

I thank you for your attention. If you anticipate a delay in providing a response to any of these questions I would appreciate if you could let me know when I might expect a response.

I’ll let you know when I get a response. (Yeah, I know that should be ‘if’ but lets be optimistic….). Just as I finished drafting this note I got a response from ComReg’s ‘Postmaster’ saying that the email (essentially the form I filled out on their site, they don’t encourage direct contact) had failed. So now I’m going to search their site (again) for someone who can take delivery of my query. And yes – this is on of the commissions responsible for communications. (Stop sniggering back there).