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03|02|05

Ofcom advertises new FM commercial radio licences for the Solent region and Torbay

Ofcom today advertises two new local FM commercial radio licences for the Solent region and Torbay.

Solent region

Ofcom is advertising an FM commercial radio licence to cover the Solent area, including most parts of south Hampshire, east Dorset and the Isle of Wight, and the south-western corner of West Sussex.

The measured coverage area of this new service is likely to contain an adult population (aged 15+) of around 1,250,000. The exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission sites used, and other technical characteristics. The proposed frequencies for this licence (106.0 MHz and 106.6 MHz) are subject to international agreement on radio spectrum usage.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 3.00 p.m. on Thursday, 5 May 2005. A non-refundable fee of £12,000 will be payable for each application submitted.

Torbay

Ofcom is also today inviting applications for a licence to provide an FM commercial radio service to cover Torbay and the surrounding area.

Ofcom estimates this licence could achieve coverage of an area with an adult population (aged 15+) of around 200,000, which is very similar to that achieved by the existing Gemini FM service on 96.4 MHz. However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics.

The closing date for the receipt of completed applications will be 3.00 p.m. on Thursday, 5 May 2005. A non-refundable fee of £1,500 will be payable for each application submitted.

General information

The full details for these licences, including the guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications, can be obtained from the Ofcom website at: www.ofcom.org.uk.

Both licences will be issued for a twelve year period. All applications for these licences will be published on the Ofcom website as soon as is practicable after the closing date.

Ofcom welcomes the views of the public about the local needs of listeners in these areas and the types of services required. Opinions on these issues can either be emailed to commercialradio@ofcom.org.uk or posted to

Neil Stock,
Head of Radio Planning & Licensing,
Ofcom,
Riverside House,
2a Southwark Bridge Road,
London SE1 9HA.

Ends.

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