Home > Radio > Information about stations and licensing > Radio Broadcast Licensing > Analogue Commercial Radio > Extension procedure...

Extension procedure for existing local analogue licensees

Under the provisions of section 253 of the Communications Act 2003, analogue licence holders who held a licence prior to 29th December 2003 (the transfer date) can apply for an extension of their licence for a period of four years from the date of expiry. A pre-transfer licence is a licence granted by the Radio Authority before the 29th December 2003, and which has not been modified or renewed at any time after that date.

Application for extension

In order to determine whether to grant an application for extension, Ofcom is required to satisfy itself as to the following matters:

• the ability of the licence holder to maintain the service for the period of the extension, and;
• the likelihood of a contravention by the licence holder of a requirement imposed by a condition in the licence by virtue of section 106 of the 1990 Act.

We shall therefore require a copy of the most recent management accounts for the licence holder and will require the licence holder to complete and sign an original declaration as supplied by Ofcom.

Timetable for extension of local licences due to expire on or prior to 29th March 2006 (Transitional arrangements)

Under the provisions of section 253 of the Communications Act 2003, applications for extension have to be made during a specified 'window'. This period begins three years before the current expiry date of the licence, and ends three months before the 'relevant' date. The 'relevant' date is the date by which Ofcom would have to re-advertise the licence were it not to be extended, and has been set at one year prior to the expiry date of the licence. Therefore the window closes 15 months before the current expiry date of the licence. Applications can be made at any time during this window.

As per the transitional arrangements set out in Schedule 18 (49) of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom will write to licence holders in advance of the 'window close' to enquire if the licensee intends to apply for an extension and ask for supporting information. The transitional provisions allow Ofcom to give less than a year's notice to a licensee of their relevant date, if the relevant date falls within 15 months of the vesting of powers to Ofcom (29th December 2003).

There is no fee payable for an application for extension.

Submissions of applications for extensions need to be made no later than the window close, but preferably should be made at least four weeks in advance.

Queries regarding extensions should be directed to Andrea Jackson in Ofcom's Radio Planning and Licensing team.
Email: andrea.jackson@ofcom.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7981 3124

Timetable for extension of local licences due to expire after 29th March 2006

Under the provisions of section 253 of the Communications Act 2003, applications for extensions have to be made during a specified 'window'. This period begins three years before the current expiry date of the licence, and ends three months before the 'relevant' date. The 'relevant' date is the date by which Ofcom would have to re-advertise the licence were it not to be extended, and has been set at one year prior to the expiry date of the licence. Therefore the window closes 15 months before the current expiry date of the licence. Applications can be made at any time during this window.

Ofcom will write to licence holders one year in advance of the relevant date (in other words, two years prior to the current licence expiry date and nine months in advance of the window close) to enquire if they intend to apply for an extension and to ask for supporting information.

There is no fee payable for an application for extension.

Submissions of applications for extensions need to be made no later than the window close, but preferably should be made at least four weeks in advance of this date.

Queries regarding extensions should be directed to Andrea Jackson in Ofcom's Radio Planning and Licensing team.
Email: andrea.jackson@ofcom.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7981 3124

Amended 01.03.2004

Back to top