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Statement on the award of 15 Community Radio Licences

Applications for community radio licences in three different areas were considered by Ofcom’s Radio Licensing Committee (RLC) on 9 June 2005. Fifteen community radio licences were awarded and the reasons for award in each case are summarised below.

With regard to the ‘characteristics of service’ for community radio (set out below), the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee (the RLC) was satisfied that each of the groups awarded a licence fulfilled the requirements set out in the Community Radio Order. In addition, each application was considered against the selection criteria set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004 (these are also set out below).

Finally, the RLC was satisfied that each group awarded a licence (with the exception of Angel Radio, Isle of Wight) should be allowed to seek up to 50% of its annual income from the sale of advertising or programme sponsorship if it so wishes, in accordance with section 105(6), and that the services would not prejudice unduly the economic viability of any other local service (section 105(3)).

Angel Radio will have a condition in its licence prohibiting income from the sale of advertising or programme sponsorship. This is because its coverage falls within the existing coverage area of a local radio service (Isle of Wight Radio) with more than 50,000, but fewer than 150,000 adults living in its measured coverage area. Under the legislation community radio services in such areas are prevented from seeking advertising and programme sponsorship revenue (section 105(4)(b)) if the coverage of the two stations overlaps by 50% or more in terms of adult (15+) population.

Solent

Seven applications were received from groups in the Solent area (The Radio Foundation, Angel Radio (Havant), Express FM, Angel Radio (Newport), The Island’s Play, Unity 24 and Skyline Community Radio. At its meeting on 7 April, the RLC decided to award a licence to Angel Radio (Havant). At the same meeting two applications, from The Island’s Play (Isle of Wight) and The Radio Foundation (Chichester), were considered but not awarded a licence. Ofcom considered the remaining four applications at its June meeting, after an investigation into whether there were frequencies available in the Solent area to enable further community radio services to broadcast. These investigations were successful and the remaining four groups in this area, Unity 24, Skyline Community Radio, Express FM and Angel Radio ( Isle of Wight), have each been awarded a licence.

Unity 24 ( Southampton): This group has gained experience through operating a number of temporary restricted service radio licences (RSLs) (section 105(1a) of the Broadcasting Act 1990). It has developed a proposal that serves several different ethnic communities and operates in 12 different languages (sections 105(1b) and 105(1c)). They are able to demonstrate fund-raising experience, which has resulted in start-up costs being largely already met in the form of fixed assets and surplus funds from previous RSL activities (1a). They have provided evidence of support from a range of appropriate organisations in the area (1d).

Skyline Community Radio (Hedge End, Botley and West End, near Eastleigh, Hants): This station will be run on a modest budget by a team of volunteers under the direction of a part-time station manager (1a). It will focus on covering very local issues, not covered by other radio services, to a small geographical area (1b and 1c). The group plans an ‘open door’ policy, holding regular meetings with the community and appointing a public representative onto its Board (1f).

Express FM (Portsmouth): This is an education-based proposal with links to learning establishments in Portsmouth. The application was considered particularly strong in its social gain objectives, with its distinct educational focus and compehensive plans for training (1e). It has clear plans for encouraging and enabling access to people to “make their own radio” (1g). The Board includes people with experience in community work and education in Portsmouth, and a large proportion of first year funding was secured at the time of application (1a).

Angel Radio (Newport, Isle of Wight): This group scored well across all the selection criteria. It has a clear understanding of the needs of its target community (the over 60s) and has comprehensive social gain objectives (1e). It will broadcast an entertainment-based service focusing on the music and memories of 1900-1959 and information of relevance to the target community (1b and 1c).

Glasgow and Cumbernauld

Nine applications were received from groups in the Glasgow area and Cumbernauld. They were considered at the same time because the relatively close proximity of Cumbernauld to Glasgow meant all the applicants were (potentially) competing for the same FM frequencies. The RLC decided to award a community radio licence to Awaz FM, VIP On air, Sunny Govan Radio and Revival Radio.

Awaz FM (Central Glasgow): This was a generally strong application reflecting the group’s background and experience (1a). It will primarily serve Glaswegians of an Indian or Pakistani origin, with some output targeting other ethnic minorities. It has coherent programme proposals (1b) which broaden choice in the area (1c); deliver social benefit and encourage listener participation (1e). Good linkages with appropriate local agencies have been established, which feed into social gain objectives and associated programme output (1a and 1e).

VIP On Air (West End of Glasgow): This is an established and well-resourced group with all of its funding secured for setting-up the station and the first year of operation (1a). The service is targeted at blind and partially sighted people. It has a good understanding of the needs of its target community and appropriate representation from various organisations at management board level (1a). The proposed output is a distinct speech-led service (80:20, speech to music) focused on providing a visual picture of news and information for the target community (1b and 1c).

Sunny Govan Radio (Govan, SW Glasgow): The applicant group describes itself as a “training, development and volunteering organisation using community radio as a vehicle for community development”. This is reflected in their social gain objectives, with training and volunteering opportunities available throughout all areas of the project (1e and 1g). A high proportion of their funding is secured (1a).

Revival Radio (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch): Revival Radio is a Christian broadcasting group with experience gained through running RSLs over the last 8 years (1a). The social gain objectives reflect the Christian perspective of the applicant (1e). The output will aim to serve the whole community as well as be of particular appeal to the church-going community (1b). The group has a well-defined training programme (1e and 1g). It is able to demonstrate strong support for the proposed service (1d). (This licence award is subject to procuring a more appropriate transmitter site.)

Five other applications from groups in Glasgow were considered by the RLC on 9 June, but were not awarded a licence. These were: Celtic Music Radio, East End Broadcast, GGT FM, Radio Asia (Scotland) and ClydeAsia Radio.

East Midlands

Eleven applications were received in this region. The RLC decided to award a community radio licence to five: Radio Faza – Asian Women’s Project, Faza FM – Karimia Ltd, NBC Live, Radio Ikhlas, The Eye, Takeover Radio and Harborough FM.

Radio Faza – Asian Women’s Project ( Nottingham): This application scored well against all of the selection criteria. The Asian Women’s Project’s experience in obtaining grant funding (1a) and setting up and running various social and education projects is reflected in their social gain objectives (1e). The have also built useful relationships with appropriate local agencies to aid delivery of the radio service (1a) and the associated social benefits (1e). Around 70% of the output will be in various community languages, with the remainder in English (1b).

Faza FM – Karimia Ltd ( Nottingham): This station will provide a platform from which issues of concern to the Muslim community can be addressed (1e). Output will include distinct devotional and cultural music as well as speech programmes specifically tailored for the target community (1b). It is situated within a community centre and benefits from being part of the centre’s wider activities, and from being able to recruit volunteers and encourage involvement from centre users (1a). Training will be delivered in partnership with a local FE college (1g).

NBC Live ( Nottingham): This service is aimed primarily at the African Caribbean community in Nottingham (as well as other Nottingham residents) (1e). The host organisation has strong links with the African Caribbean community, and the directors appear committed, experienced and well placed in the voluntary, cultural and business communities to take forward this project (1a and 1e). The station will play music of Black origin and encourage topical debate, offering a distinctly different radio service (1b and1c).

Radio Ikhkas (Normanton, Derby): This station seeks to serve a very specific small geographical area within the City of Derby, and will target the Asian community (primarily Pakistani) and growing number of asylum seekers in the Normanton area (1e). The group has a well-established core team with good community links as well as RSL and internet broadcasting experience (1a). The service will build upon and fulfil a need identified through their RSLs, and provide a service in community languages that caters to the needs of the target audience and broadens choice in Derby (1b and 1c). They have demonstrated good support for the application, and links with various community organisations (1d).

The Eye (Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire): This application scored well across most of the selection criteria. The group has used its experience in running RSLs in the area over a number of years to put together well-resourced and well thought-through proposals (1a). Their fairly long-term activities within with the community are evidenced through their links with appropriate local organisations and support for the application (1d). They have established clear mechanisms to facilitate and encourage feedback to the service and accountability to the target community (1f).

Takeover Radio (Leicester): The target community is children and young people, and the application scores very highly across all the selection criteria. The Board members have a range of appropriate skills and experience (1a). Funding has been secured for the first year of operation (1a). The group has structured training, a modern apprenticeship programme and work placement scheme (1e and 1g). They have developed strong links with various groups that work with children and young people (1a and 1e).

Harborough FM (Market Harborough): This is a long-established radio group which scored well across all criteria. The Board has experience in training, management and technical matters, as well as having gained broadcasting experience through running RSLs (1a). It has strong training objectives supported by formal links with a local college (1e).

Four other applications in this region were considered by the RLC, but have not been awarded a licence. These are Carillon Radio (Coalville, NW Leicestershire), Voluntary Action Kesteven (Grantham), DCFM ( Derby) and Raajcomm (Leicester).

Each community radio service will be licensed on FM for a five-year period.

The following pages set out the statutory requirements relating to community radio licensing, and details of the licensing process. Further information about these, and detailed information relating to community radio, can be found at:

www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rl/commun_radio/

Statutory requirements relating to community radio licensing

In carrying out all of its functions, Ofcom is required to have regard to the general duties set out in section 3 of the Communications Act 2003. In addition, under section 85(2)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, it is the duty of Ofcom to do all that it can to secure the provision within the UK of a range and diversity of local radio services.

The characteristics of a community radio service

In respect of the licensing of community radio services in particular, all community radio licensees must satisfy ‘characteristics of service’ requirements which are specified in Article 3 of the Community Radio Order. The characteristics of community radio services are:

That they are local services provided primarily for the good of members of the public, or of particular communities, and in order to deliver social gain, rather than primarily for commercial reasons or for the financial or other material gain of the individuals involved in providing the service;
That the service is intended primarily to serve one or more communities (whether or not it also serves other members of the public);
That the person providing the service does not do so in order to make a financial profit by so doing, and uses any profit that is produced in the provision of the service wholly and exclusively for securing or improving the future provision of the service, or for the delivery of social gain to members of the public or the community that the service is intended to serve;
That members of the community it is intended to serve are given opportunities to participate in the operation and management of the service;
That, in respect of the provision of that service, the person providing the service makes himself accountable to the community that the service is intended to serve.

The Community Radio Order includes four mandatory social gain objectives. It says: social gain means the achievement, in respect of individuals or groups of individuals in the community that the service is intended to serve, or in respect of other members of the public, of the following objectives:

the provision of sound broadcasting services to individuals who are otherwise underserved by such services,
the facilitation of discussion and the expression of opinion,
the provision (whether by means of programmes included in the service or otherwise) of education or training to individuals not employed by the person providing the service, and
the better understanding of the particular community and the strengthening of links within it.

Specific community radio licence award criteria

There are seven specific selection criteria set out in subsection 1 of section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 as modified by the Community Radio Order that Ofcom must have regard to when considering whether to make a community radio licence award. In summary these are:

The ability of each applicant to maintain its proposed service over the licence period (section 105(1)(a));
The applicant’s ability to cater for the tastes and interests of the target community (s ection 105(1)(b));
The extent to which each applicant would broaden the range of local commercial radio services available in the area, and have a content distinct from those services (section 105(1)(c));
The extent to which there is evidence of local demand or support for a proposed service (section 105(1)(d));
The extent to which the service would deliver social gain benefits to the public or relevant community (section 105(1)(e));
Provisions for making the operator of service accountable to the relevant community (section 105(1)(f));
Provisions for allowing access by members of the public or the relevant community to the station facilities, and the provision of training in the use of those facilities (section 105(1)(g)).

In addition, in considering whether, or to whom (and on what conditions), to grant a community radio licence, Ofcom must have regard to the need to ensure that any service provided under that licence does not prejudice unduly the economic viability of any other local service. In particular in this respect, subsections 4 to 6 of section 105 require Ofcom:

not to grant a community radio licence which would overlap with a commercial radio service serving no more than 50,000 persons of 15 years or older;
to prohibit paid advertising and sponsorship of programmes in respect of any community radio service where that service overlaps with any other local radio service serving between 50,000 and 150,000 persons of 15 years or older; and
in all other cases, to prohibit any community radio service from receiving an appropriate proportion (at least 50%) of relevant income from paid advertising and sponsorship of programmes.

Ofcom is also prohibited, by subsection 2 of section 105, from granting a licence to any applicant who proposes to receive from any one person (or company) more than 50% of its annual funding.

Process for assessment of applications

On 1 September 2004 Ofcom invited applications for licences to provide community radio services in most parts of the United Kingdom . These licences were offered for the provision of services on either the FM (VHF) or AM (medium wave) wavebands. The invitation did not specify the locations of services, but left it for applicants to decide where they wanted to be located.

Ofcom received 194 applications, the non-confidential sections of which were made available for public scrutiny on the Ofcom website.

Given the large number of applications received for community radio licences, Ofcom has decided to assess them in order of priority by first considering applications in areas where the 14 pilot community radio (formerly known as ‘Access Radio’) stations are currently broadcasting. This involves over 70 applications, and includes areas such as London, Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Ofcom is aiming to make decisions in these areas by the early autumn, before moving on to look at applications for areas not involved in the pilot scheme. Ofcom expects to complete this round of the community radio awards process in the autumn.

The membership of the RLC for the licence awards and non-awards detailed above was as follows:

Kip Meek, Senior Partner, Competition & Content (Chair)
Ian Hargreaves, Ofcom Board member (Co-chair)
Peter Bury, Director of Strategic Resources
Martin Campbell, Head of Radio Content & Standards
Peter Davies, Director, Radio & Multimedia
Matthew MacIver, Content Board member for Scotland
Neil Stock, Head of Radio Planning & Licensing.

A summary and assessment of each application was presented to the RLC at its meeting on 9 June 2005. These papers summarised the proposals put forward by the applicants as they relate to the statutory criteria, and highlighted any issues of relevance under those criteria.

11 July 2005