Radio Authority 'pre-advertises' licences for Guildford

98/02

8 August 2002

Radio Authority 'pre-advertises' licences for Guildford

The Radio Authority is next week (16 August) publishing a notice inviting declarations of intent to apply for the local radio licences for the Guildford area for an eight-year period from 4 April 2004. The licences are at present held by County Sound Ltd., broadcasting as 96.4 The Eagle on the FM (VHF) waveband, and County Sound Radio 1566 on AM (medium wave). Both of these licences are due to expire on
3 April 2004. The FM service provides coverage of an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of around 510,000, and the AM service covers (in daylight hours) an area with an adult population of 500,000.

These licences are being 'pre-advertised' under the provisions of the 'special application procedure' introduced in the 1996 Broadcasting Act. Prospective applicants, including the existing licensee, have until Tuesday, 17 September 2002 to submit a declaration of intent, notifying the Authority that they wish to apply for one or both of these licences. A declaration of intent must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of £5,000 for the FM licence, £3,500 for the AM licence, or £8,500 for both licences, together with the payment of a deposit of £40,000 for the FM licence, £26,700 for the AM licence, or £66,700 for both licences, refundable upon receipt by the Authority of a valid application in response to the subsequent advertisement of the licence(s).

For each licence, in the event that the only declaration of intent submitted is from the existing licence-holder, the Authority will invite the licensee to re-apply for the licence under an abbreviated 'fast track' procedure. The licensee has confirmed that any uncontested re-application would be made on the basis of maintaining the existing programme format, as required under the Authority's agreed procedure. In these circumstances, a copy of the non-confidential part of the re-application document would be available to the public at the Authority’s offices.

If the Authority receives a declaration of intent from anyone else (or, for whatever reason, does not receive one from the existing licensee), the licence(s) will then be formally re-advertised, with a closing date for applications (to be specified at the time of re-advertisement) in January 2003. If the Authority proceeds with a full re-advertisement, it will be open to anyone (i.e. not confined to those who submitted declarations of intent) to apply.

Further details of this procedure may be obtained, on written request, from the Authority's Director of Development, at Holbrook House, 14 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DG.

The Authority welcomes views from the public about the local radio needs of listeners in this area, the extent to which these are met by the existing services of 96.4 The Eagle and County Sound Radio 1566, and the type of programme services required in future. These should be sent to the above address.

ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS

The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the Independent Radio industry and its listeners.

The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the Independent Radio industry and its listeners.

Contact:
Press enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4290 / 020 7887 4294
Out of hours tel: 07770 375283
Public enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4357

Revised: August 08, 2002