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These documents were originally published by the Radiocommunications Agency, one of the organisations replaced by Ofcom at the end of 2003. It represents Ofcom's current policy.

Citizens Band (CB) licensing

Ofcom proposes to allow local religious and community organisations to operate within the UK-only Citizens’ Band allocation, to begin with, by licensing a number of such organisations to transmit services in a limited number of pilot areas. These would be called Community Audio Distribution Systems (CADS).

To test these plans, we are proposing a closely monitored year-long pilot scheme in the areas where interest has been most widespread and sustained: Northern Ireland and West Yorkshire .

Anyone interested in learning more about this consultation should look at the information on the Consultation on the provision of community audio distribution systems on Ofcom’s website (see Related Items).

On 24 March 2003 , the Radiocommunications Agency published a consultation document on proposals to:

• Deregulate Citizens’ Band Radio so that the service could be used without the requirement to obtain a WT Act licence;
• Withdraw the UK-only channel allocation on 1 July 2010 leaving the 40 European (CEPT) Citizens’ Band channels.

Ofcom regards the Community Audio Distribution System service as an opportunity to improve the usage of this spectrum and the experimental trial will be used to inform Ofcom’s decision-making process. If the Citizens’ Band radio service and the Community Audio Distribution System service are able to coexist, Ofcom may decide that the withdrawal of the UK-only channel allocation from the Citizens’ Band radio service is not necessary.

Once Ofcom has gained some experience of the ability of the CADS and CB services to share the same spectrum, it is hoped that it will be possible to deregulate the Citizens’ Band radio service so that CB users will no longer require a WT Act licence. In the meantime, the WT Act licence will prevent CADS from operating on European (CEPT) Citizens’ Band channels.

Notice Of Variation Of Citizens' Band Radio Licence (20 December 2002)

RA 240	Application For A Citizens' Band Radio Licence (Rev 8, March 2001) *
RA 246	Citizen's Band Radio Information Sheet (Rev. 8, March 2001)
RA 369	Citizen's Band Radio Licence Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet (Rev. 1, January 2001)
RA 409	Abuse of Amateur & CB Radio – Including Licence Revocation Procedure

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