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28|04|06

Notes 21st Meeting 9 March 2006

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 21st meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout with the exception of Matthew MacIver who had given his apologies. Other Ofcom colleagues were also present throughout or attended for part of the meeting:

Minutes of the previous Meeting

2. The minutes of the Radio Licensing Committee Meeting held on 9 th February 2006 were agreed as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

3. There were no matters arising that were not being dealt with under items on the Agenda.

Update on the Community Radio Fund Panel

4. Kevin Carey , the Chair of the Community Radio Fund Panel, updated the Radio Licensing Committee on the recent awards to community radio licensees. The Panel will next meet to consider grants on the 29 th June 2006 .

Local commercial radio licence award: Plymouth

5. After a full and careful discussion of each licence application, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, the Committee awarded the licence to Radio UK Holdings Limited (Diamond FM) owned by Macquarie Bank Limited. It was noted that the announcement regarding the winning licence application would be made on the same day and a statement explaining the factors which led the Committee to its decision was scheduled to be published in due course.

Restricted Services: Deregulatory Proposals

6. The Radio Licensing Committee received an update on the proposals for consultation regarding the deregulation of restricted service licences, and the implementation of permanent licensing regimes for Community Audio Distribution Systems (CADS) and Audio Distribution Systems (ADS).

Commercial Radio Licensing Review

7. The Radio Licensing Committee received an update on the findings and conclusions of a recent commercial radio licensing review.

Applications for Rotherham local commercial radio licence.

8. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the three applications received for the Rotherham licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 11 th May 2006 meeting.

Future of Radio.

9. The Radio Licensing Committee received an update on the 'future of radio' project.

Community Radio licence awards: Various areas (Batch 6)

10. After a full discussion of applications in various areas, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004), the Committee awarded a licence to each of the following:

Ipswich Community Radio

Branch FM (Dewsbury)

Radio Verulam ( St Albans )

Diverse FM ( Luton )

Siren FM (Lincoln)

Salisbury Plain Army Radio (Tidworth, Bulford & Salisbury Plain)

Castledown Radio (Tidworth & Salisbury Plain)

Hope FM ( Bournemouth )

Calon FM (Wrexham)

11. Due to a lack of frequency resources, the Committee resolved not to award a licence to the following applicant:

Lyon Radio ( Stevenage )

12. The Committee decided not to award a licence to each of the following applicants:

Community Media Wrexham

Nerve Radio ( Bournemouth )

Lindum Radio (Lincoln)

13. The Committee will consider further other applications at a later date when further frequency details become available.

Community radio licensing – Phase 2.

14. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the next round and process of community radio licensing.

Request for Format Change

15. The Radio Licensing Committee considered two Format change requests.

Community Radio Fund Panel.

16. The Radio Licensing Committee noted the minutes of the Community Radio Fund Panel meeting of 14 February 2006.

AOB

17. There were no items under any other business.

Date of next meeting

18. To be held on Thursday 13 th April 2006 in London.

March 2006