Decision – Uckfield Community Radio Limited
Ofcom has imposed a sanction on Uckfield Community Radio Limited after a discussion about the causes and origins of Covid-19 on its community radio station – Uckfield FM - was found to have breached broadcasting rules. The broadcaster must broadcast a summary of our findings to its listeners.
On 28 February 2020, Uckfield FM broadcast a discussion which contained potentially harmful claims about the coronavirus virus, including unfounded claims that the virus outbreak in Wuhan, China was linked to the roll out of 5G technology. Ofcom’s investigation concluded that the broadcaster failed to adequately protect listeners and had breached Rule 2.1 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
Given the seriousness of this breach, Ofcom has directed the Licensee to broadcast a statement of Ofcom’s findings on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.