Following the Annual General Meeting of the Community Media Association (CMA) last November and the first meeting of its newly elected Council on Saturday 11th January, the CMA has confirmed the re-appointment of Danny Lawrence of Gateway 97.8 as the Chairman. Janey Gordon of the University of Bedfordshire and Richard Read more +
Posts Categorized: Policy
Ofcom awards four new community radio licences
Ofcom announces the award of four new community radio licences in England, Scotland, and Wales. The new stations will serve communities in Shaftesbury, Dorset in England; Shotts in Lanarkshire, Scotland; Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales; and Towyn, Conwy, in North Wales. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, Read more +
Community Media Association calls for more support and recognition of community radio
Ahead of the deadline for all prospective candidates to submit their nomination for the upcoming General Election, the Community Media Association (CMA) has called on its members, their friends and family, and the wider public to ask for more support and recognition for community radio from prospective MPs. The CMA highlights three possible Read more +
Ofcom – Supporting community radio across the UK
Ofcom announces that the current round of community radio licensing on FM or AM will be the last “for the foreseeable future, as we will shortly begin licensing new local digital radio stations that will use cutting-edge ‘small-scale DAB’ technology, pioneered by an Ofcom engineer. We expect to invite applications Read more +
The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019
The draft statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum for The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 have now been published online at the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/contents The DCMS Parliamentary team has fast-tracked proceedings and the Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 has been laid in Read more +
Sharon White to step down as Ofcom Chief Executive
The Ofcom Board has announced that Sharon White is to step down as Chief Executive. Sharon is leaving to become Chairman of The John Lewis Partnership. She is expected to leave Ofcom around the turn of the year. Sharon joined Ofcom in March 2015 from HM Treasury where she was Read more +
Ofcom Receives 35 Community Radio Applications
Ofcom has received 35 applications for community radio licences from 43 areas of the UK which had submitted an expression of interest. Applications for new stations have been received from 26 proposed stations for England, one in Northern Ireland, three for Scotland, and five in Wales. Below is a list Read more +
Invitation of applications for new community radio licences
Ofcom is inviting applications for new FM community radio licences (PDF, 196.3 KB) in 43 areas across the UK. These areas were announced in September 2018, and were based on earlier responses from individuals or groups who had expressed an interest in applying for a community radio licence. The closing Read more +
Expressions of interest in small-scale DAB
Ofcom has published details of the responses to their call for expressions of interest for small-scale DAB. Small-scale DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is an innovative technology designed to allow local stations to achieve affordable transmission on digital radio. Ofcom’s update contains three maps and tables showing the locations where parties Read more +
The Community Media Association’s Response to Radiocentre’s Report: Small-Scale Radio in the UK
A PDF version of this text may be downloaded here. The story of community radio in the United Kingdom is one of success. From the humble origins of fifteen Access radio stations in the early 2000s, there are now over 270 licensed community radio stations across the whole of the Read more +
New application process for short-term restricted service licences
Ofcom has outlined a new application process for short-term restricted service licences (SRSLs). Under the new process, applications should now be submitted by email. Other changes include requiring applicants to provide more detailed information to help us better assess whether they have appropriate processes for ensuring compliance with broadcasting standards. Read more +
Small-Scale DAB Licensing consultation – Comment from the Community Media Association on the Government’s proposals
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published its response to the industry consultation on the development of Small Scale Digital Audio Broadcasting (SSDAB). The Community Media Association (CMA) is the sector body for community media in the UK and includes among its membership the majority of Read more +
Advice for Community Radio Fund Applicants
Ofcom has published guidance to help stations which intend to apply for Community Radio Fund grants. The guidance sets out the information that the awarding panel is likely to look for when considering grant applications. The second round of the Community Radio Fund 2018-19 opened for applications from eligible stations Read more +
Call for expressions of interest: Small-scale DAB
The Broadcasting (Radio Multiplex Services) Act 2017 (“2017 Act”) made provision for the licensing and regulation of small-scale radio multiplex services. Specifically, it allowed for the introduction of secondary legislation which would apply certain provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996 and/or Communications Act 2003, with appropriate modifications, to small-scale radio Read more +
Ofcom awards two new community radio licences in England
Ofcom has announced the award of two new community radio licences in England. The new stations will serve communities in Manchester and Leicester. More than 250 community radio stations are currently on air. The two new community radio licences have been awarded to: Heritage Community Radio (British Muslim Heritage Centre) Location: Read more +
Ofcom awards two new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of two new community radio licences in England. The new stations will serve communities in Manchester and Leicester. More than 250 community radio stations are currently on air. The two new community radio licences have been awarded to: Heritage Community Radio (British Muslim Heritage Centre) Read more +
Ofcom Consultation: Localness on commercial radio
Ofcom seeks views on a number of proposed changes to the localness guidelines for local commercial radio stations. The current guidelines were last substantially revised in 2010, and in light of the ongoing pace of change in the media sector, Ofcom has reviewed the current guidelines. This has included some Read more +
The Community Media Conference 2018
The Community Media Conference 2018 presented by the Community Media Association (CMA) will be taking place on Saturday 15th September at The Workstation in Sheffield, a leading business centre for creative talent and innovation. Book your tickets now. This year’s Community Media Conference provides access to a still growing, vibrant and energetic broadcast Read more +
Ofcom awards two new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of two new community radio licences in England. The new stations will serve communities in Bradford and Hampshire. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to a particular area or community of interest. More than Read more +
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy | Website privacy notice 1. Introduction This privacy notice provides you with details of how we collect and process your personal data through your use of our website http://www.commedia.org.uk including any information you may provide through our site when you sign up to our newsletter, register for an event, Read more +
Extension of 10 small-scale DAB radio trials
Ofcom has proposed to further extend the licences of the 10 trial small-scale DAB multiplexes. The trials, which started in 2015, have proven to be successful. There are currently around 150 community and small commercial radio services broadcasting digitally on the 10 trial multiplexes. By further extending the trials, these radio Read more +
Civil society strategy consultation: have your say
Have your say on how Government can work with and for civil society to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities to build a stronger society now and in the future. This consultation closes at 9am on 22 May 2018. From supporting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society to the Read more +
“Spaces of Inclusion”
The Council of Europe publication entitled “Spaces of Inclusion – An explorative study on needs of refugees and migrants in the domain of media communication and on responses by community media” has been prepared by experts of the COMMIT Community Media Institute in Austria. It will be presented by COMMIT Read more +
Small scale DAB licensing consultation
Summary The Government is seeking views on proposals for a licensing regime for small-scale DAB radio multiplexes This consultation closes at 5pm on 28 February 2018. Consultation description The emergence of the software-enabled approach to broadcasting on DAB radio and its developing maturity as a workable and practical technology has the Read more +
Commercial radio deregulation – government response
The DCMS response has now been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/commercial-radio-deregulation-consultation. Community Radio Q20. We would welcome views on whether the same arrangements for extending the duration of analogue commercial radio licences (see Q13) in the run up to a future radio switchover should also apply to community radio. Summary of consultation responses Read more +
Ofcom announces the award of seven new community radio licences in England and Scotland
Ofcom has announced the award of seven new community radio licences in England and Scotland. The new stations will serve communities in Blackburn in Lancashire, Caithness in Scotland, Great Driffield in East Riding, Leyland in Lancashire, Liverpool, Southport in Merseyside and Rawtenstall in the Rossendale Valley in East Lancashire. Licences Read more +
Ofcom awards nine new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of nine new community radio licences in England and Wales. The new stations will serve communities in Cannock and Rugeley in Staffordshire, Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, Keynsham, Yeovil, and Minehead in Somerset, Swanage and Dorchester in Dorset, Newquay in Cornwall and the Rhondda Read more +
Grass roots media galvanise to tackle hate speech
While debate rages about how to stop hate speech on social media, a movement of volunteers across the UK is tackling the so-called ‘alt media of hate’, in their own backyards – and on a shoestring. Community radio stations and local media projects, run by and for the communities that Read more +
Ofcom Communications Market Report 2017
Ofcom has today published its annual Communications Market Report, the most comprehensive study of the UK’s TV, radio, broadband, telecoms and postal industries. Ofcom has also published accompanying reports for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A news release is available. Headline issues for community radio are as follows: Total community radio sector revenue was flat in real terms between 2015 Read more +
Ofcom invites applications for community radio licences
Ofcom has today opened invitations for applications for new community radio licences for areas within, or those that overlap with, the coverage area of existing community radio services. These applications will be for services operating on FM only: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/104651/invitation-overlapping-areas.pdf The closing date for applications is Tuesday 24 October 2017 at 3pm.
