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31|07|08

Managing the airwaves for theatres, live events and programme-makers

Ofcom today set out detailed proposals for appointing a ‘band manager’ to look after the spectrum needs of programme makers and special events (PMSE) organisers.

Today’s announcement is the third detailed consultation on the release of the valuable spectrum that will be freed up by the switch to digital television by 2012.

This consultation outlines proposals for appointing a band manager by a comparative selection process, also known as a ‘beauty contest’, to manage the airwaves currently used by wireless microphones and wireless cameras. This kind of equipment is widely used by groups such as theatres, outside broadcasters, live event organisers and programme-makers as well as community users including schools and places of worship.

Ofcom proposes to judge applications for the band manager role against three main criteria:

• understanding of, and commitment to meeting, the needs of PMSE users;
• promoting effective use of the spectrum; and
• technical, financial and managerial capacity.

In order to protect PMSE users during the transition to making more use of market mechanisms in managing spectrum, Ofcom proposes to require the band manager to commit to:

• pricing on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis;
• providing service levels and key performance indicators; and
• establishing internal and independent external dispute resolution procedures.

Ofcom proposes an independent annual audit of the band manager’s performance, the results of which will be published, and a formal review every three years.

As long as the band manager meets its primary obligations to PMSE users, it will be able to allow other uses of its spectrum to deliver new services – potentially including more digital television – to citizens and consumers. The consultation also sets out Ofcom’s commitment to continue its role helping to meet the spectrum needs of major events.

The consultation, which runs until 16 October 2008, can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/bandmngr/.

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. In December 2007, Ofcom published its statement on the digital dividend, which set out a market-led approach to the release of the spectrum. The statement can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/ddr/statement/

2. This is the third major consultation on the detailed design of the award of different parts of the digital dividend. Last month Ofcom published proposals for awarding the cleared spectrum as well as geographic packages of the ‘white space’ available in the spectrum that will be used by digital television transmitters.

3. The consultation on the spectrum that will be cleared as a result of digital switchover was published on 6 June 2008 and can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/clearedaward/.

4. The consultation on geographic packages of the white space available in the spectrum that will be used by digital television transmitters was published on the 12 June and can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/ddrinterleaved/

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