Commencement of small-scale DAB licensing
​Ofcom has announced that the first small-scale radio multiplex licences (‘Round One’) will be advertised on Tuesday 1 September. This will also be the date from which applicants will be able to apply for a Community Digital Sound Programme (‘C-DSP’) licence to broadcast a C-DSP service on any of the multiplex services for which licences are being advertised in Round One.
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Once advertised, applicants will have 12 weeks to prepare and submit their applications before the closing date.

The list of multiplex licence areas being advertised on 1 September is as follows:

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The Background

In July 2019 Ofcom opened a consultation setting out plans to license small-scale DAB, using the new powers the Government is proposing to give the Regulator. 

The consultation sought views from stakeholders on a range of key issues, including:

• The approach to developing a coverage area plan for small-scale radio multiplex services;
• ​The advertisement of small-scale radio multiplex and C-DSP licences;
• ​How applications for small-scale radio multiplex and C-DSP licences will be assessed.

​The consultation also set out:

• Ofcom's proposed spectrum planning and licensing process for small-scale radio multiplex licences;
• The proposed licensing process for C-DSP licences.

​The deadline for consultation responses was Friday 4 October 2019. Ofcom's conclusions and proposals were published on Tuesday 7th April and we have summarised them below.  Read the full document HERE.

Summary of Ofcom's Conclusions & Proposals

Overview

Ofcom believes that small-scale DAB represents an appropriate use of spectrum, meeting demonstrable demand from community radio, smaller commercial radio stations and new entrants for an affordable pathway to terrestrial digital radio. This, in turn, will help to ensure the continued availability of a diverse range of radio services across the United Kingdom, on a platform which accounts for an increasing amount of radio listening.

The Licence Advertisement Process

Ofcom will advertise licences for small-scale DAB in batches – two of the batches will each consist of licences for services in a specified region of the UK, due to a lack of sufficient suitable spectrum in these areas. The other batches will comprise licences for services in different parts of the UK, selected having regard to eight specified factors which are set out in Ofcom's Statement. Applications for the new Community Digital Sound Programme (‘C-DSP’) licences will open at the same time as the publication of multiplex licence advertisements.

Time Frame

In light of the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, and the impact it will be having on stakeholders, at this stage Ofcom has decided not to specify a date when the first licences will be advertised.  The situation will be kept under review, and the licensing programme will commence when a majority of relevant stakeholders (in particular, prospective applicants for small-scale radio multiplex and/or C-DSP licences) consider that they would be able to participate fully. Application forms and accompanying Notes of Guidance will also be published at that time.

Ongoing Review

Once the process is underway, Ofcom will keep under review the uptake of small-scale radio multiplex licences and, should spectrum resources allow,  then consider whether to advertise additional local radio multiplexes, where there is demand. So, after Rounds 1 and 2, there will be a short internal review where Ofcom may make amendments to the licensing process and/or timetable. Any changes will be made clear when applications are invited for Round 3.

The 40% Overlap Rule

Ofcom has decided, in line with the legislative intent and for all the small-scale multiplex licences being advertised, to apply the 40% limit on population of a local multiplex that can be covered by an overlapping small-scale multiplex (or by multiplexes with the same licensee).

No Mandate for DAB+

Ofcom will now not be requiring all programme services carried by small-scale radio multiplex services to be broadcast using the DAB+ standard, as had been proposed in the consultation.

C-DSP Key Commitments

The ‘Key Commitments’ of C-DSP licensees will focus principally on the provision of ‘social gain’, accountability to the target community, and the ability of members of that community to participate in the service. Relative to analogue community radio, the Key Commitments will focus less on specific programming requirements.

C-DSP Licensee Studio Location

As also proposed in the consultation, Ofcom will require that the main studio of a C-DSP service is located within the coverage area of the small-scale radio multiplex service upon which the C-DSP service is provided.

It's great to see that things are, at last, moving forward. We've already received a huge number of enquiries about Ofcom's proposed timeline for the first two rounds of licensing which we now know will commence on September 1st. 

Please read through the whole Ofcom Statement. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions please don't hesitate to contact us here at Viamux. (Use the button below)

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Full Ofcom Statement

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