Funferal

ComReg consultation on radio spectrum policy

ComReg (Ireland’s Commission for Communications Regulation) is currently running a consultation process on radio spectrum management policy for 2005-2007. So much, so yawn. However, several of the issues they raise could have important impacts on the future of non-commercial broadcasters and others. I’m planning on preparing a submission dealing with some of their questions, and I’d like input from others. The deadline is 5th March, but I’d like to get something out in the next 1-2 weeks. Interested? Then drop me a line and I’ll patch you into the email conversation.
I plan for this to be a short, relatively straight-forward response, so the workload should be low – mainly we’ll be raising flags beside various issues in the hope that they will be dissuaded, and to act as markers for future action. The main areas I’m planning on tackling are:

• Their conception of ‘efficiency’ in terms of monetisation, and how this creates and ignores externalities, such as the social and cultural value of non-commercial broadcasting. Their treatment of ‘consumer surplus’ will fall in here too.
• Wireless broadband, and the issue of unlicensed networks. I plan to draw on the CUWin experience here.
• Broadcasting policy, specifically radio and DAB policy (though the only question they ask in this section is “Do you consider that there will be significant demand for DVB or DAB technologies?”)
• The suggestions regarding ‘Wireless public address systems’ which seem, in the context of ComReg’s overall approach, to be a stealth approach towards undermining the future of community (radio) broadcasting.