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10|01|06

Ofcom awards community radio licence

Ofcom today announces the award of a new community radio licence, bringing the total number of community radio licences awarded to date to 63.

Community radio is a new sector of radio being introduced in the UK. It will become the third tier of radio which will complement the mix of services already provided by the BBC and commercial radio sectors. The characteristics of community radio are distinct from commercial radio in that the services will cover a small geographical area and be provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest.

Ofcom has awarded a community radio licence to:

• Forest FM
  Contact: Steve Saville, Forest Community Radio, Little Cranebrook, St Michaels Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6JA
  T el: 01202 826690 email: info@forestfm.co.uk website: www.forestfm.co.uk

Forest FM aims to provide a community radio service for Verwood and the surrounding hamlets and villages in rural East Dorset, on the edge of the New Forest. The station will aim to nurture community spirit and provide access to local individuals, groups, societies and musicians as well as providing media training and opportunities for young and old. Forest FM will be the voice of the local community.

Applications for the first wave of community radio licences were invited in September 2004. Ofcom received 194 applications and is currently in the process of assessing those applications and examining frequency availability options. The applications can be viewed at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/applications/

Ofcom expects to complete this round of the community radio awards process early this year. Licences are awarded for a five-year period.

A statement setting out the main determining factors for the award of a community radio licence to Forest FM will be available shortly from the Ofcom website.

Ends.

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