Radio Authority announces closure of its reading room

112/03

27 October 2003

RADIO AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF ITS READING ROOM

The Radio Authority's Reading Room, in which all eight year local analogue radio licence applications and digital multiplex applications may be viewed, will close on Friday, 14 November 2003, one week after the Authority's final licence decision.

Applications for existing local radio licences awarded by the Authority will become the property of Ofcom and will transfer to the new organisation at the end of the year.

ENDS

NOTES 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.

At the end of this year, the Radio Authority will cease to exist, and its responsibilities for licensing and regulating Independent Radio will pass to Ofcom, the new converged regulator for the communications sector. See the Ofcom transitional website at www.ofcom.org.uk for more details.

Contact:
Press enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4292
Public enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4290

Revised: October 27, 2003