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Consultation published: 10/08/2004

Consultation closes: 19/10/2004

Summary

Ofcom proposes to allow local religious and community organisations to operate within the UK Citizen Band allocation, to begin with, by licensing a number of such organisations to transmit services in a limited number of pilot areas. These would be called Community Audio Distribution Systems (CADS).

At present, some housebound religious congregation members, who wish to hear local religious community services, are unable to do so. Ofcom is aware that there is demand for this facility; therefore providing a means whereby reasonably priced and readily available equipment can be purchased and used without much technical knowledge for this purpose has been a high priority in its first year.

We are proposing to allow CADS users to share spectrum with the Citizens' Band radio service in a way which will provide the flexibility required to transmit religious and community service material whilst protecting other spectrum users from harmful interference.

Community Audio Distribution Systems would, in practice, constitute simple, short-range and inexpensive wireless public address systems. The evidence of demand for such arrangements has arisen primarily from within religious communities and this is therefore where we expect the majority of use to arise. However, other community groups could also use the arrangements for other similar purposes.

Finally, to test these plans, we are proposing a closely monitored year-long pilot scheme in the areas where interest has been most widespread and sustained: Northern Ireland and West Yorkshire.

Consultation on the provision of community audio distribution systems

The full consultation document is available via the link at the top right of the page

• Consultation on the provision of community audio distribution systems [pdf]
  Full Consultation - print version

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