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Executive summary

1.1 Since 2004 Ofcom has been running a trial for Community Audio Distribution Systems (CADS) with restricted coverage using what was formerly^(-1-) defined as non-broadcast spectrum. This trial is due to close at the end of March 2007, and this consultation considers whether, and if so how best, to implement a permanent scheme for this type of service.

1.2 CADS services, which have been trialled in Northern Ireland and parts of West Yorkshire, use Citizens’ Band (CB) Radio equipment. To date they have been used only to transmit religious services to house-bound parishioners, but they could be employed to relay any community event. The providers of CADS services are currently licensed under the Wireless Telegraphy Act (WTA). CADS licensees are allowed ‘reasonable endeavours’ usage of CB Radio spectrum which gives them unprotected coverage of two to three km but only when no-one else is using the channel in question. The content they carry is restricted to the live transmission of community events (see below), and does not include carriage of material which has been specifically developed for the purpose of broadcasting. By virtue of their use of specialist CB Radio equipment, each CADS service is available to a small and self-selecting user group.

1.3 In relation to CADS, we make the following proposals and invite commentary on the following issues:

• To introduce a permanent scheme for CADS services
• To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport to lay a Statutory Instrument before Parliament exempting CADS from the need to hold a Broadcasting Act (BA) licence.
• To recommend that the Statutory Instrument should ensure that CADS:



• are available only for the purpose of the live onward transmission of a community event (for example, an act of worship, a council meeting, a community play or a call to prayer);
• may not carry commercial messages of any kind;
• are for intermittent use^(-2-) and only available for public consumption to a geographically local area, on a ‘reasonable endeavours’^(-3-) basis, by means of Citizen’s Band Radio equipment.

1.4 Should Parliament approve the Statutory Instrument we propose:

• To allow CADS services access to all CB Radio channels. Currently, this would include the 40 channels located between 26.97 and 27.41 MHz, (the EU CB Band) as well as the 40 channels located between and 27.60 and 27.99 MHz (the UK Citizen Band) which have been used by CADS during the trial. However, CADS operators should note that Ofcom reserves the right to amend the use of the CB Radio spectrum should circumstances warrant, although on the basis of current information, it does not believe that a review of this spectrum is likely to be necessary in the short-term (i.e. the next three to five years).
• That all technical requirements applicable to the use of Citizens’ Band equipment will apply to Community Audio Distribution Systems;
• To maintain power levels at current levels (typically up to 4.0 watts)
• To remind CADS operators that, in common with standard CB Radio users, their access to the CB Radio spectrum is dependent upon the agreement of the Ministry of Defence, which may be withdrawn at any time [without prior notice]; and
• To remind CADS operators that CB Radio equipment must be operated on a 'non-interference, non-protected' basis; that is, it shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall not claim protection from, other stations operating in accordance with Article 5 of the Radio Regulations

1.5 In light of CADS services’ use of CB Radio spectrum, they would continue to be subject to any changes pertaining to the use of that spectrum. This would include the proposal to make all CB Radio use exempt from the need to hold a WTA licence.

Footnotes:

1.- The Communications Act 2003 removed the distinction between broadcast and non-broadcast spectrum.

2.- By ‘intermittent use’ we mean transmission on any available frequency for a maximum of four hours (which may be non-consecutive) within a twenty-four hour period.

3.- See paragraph 3.20 of the main document for a definition of ‘reasonable endeavours’ spectrum provision.

The full document is available below:

• Community Audio Distribution Systems [pdf]
  Full print version

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