Community Radio
Licence extension application form

Updated: 24 May 2018

Contents

Section		Page	
1	The Application Process	3	
2	Application Form	5	

The Application Process
The Community Radio (Amendment) Order 2015 (the “2015 Order”) came into force on 27 March 2015.  
The 2015 Order makes new provisions for renewal of community radio licences by giving Ofcom the power to extend community radio licences for a period of not more than five years on two consecutive occasions. 
Section 253A of the Communications Act 2003 provides that an application for an extension may only be made within a period beginning 18 months prior to the expiry date of the existing licence, and ending six months before that date. 
Section 253A also provides that, where Ofcom receives an application for the extension of a community radio licence, it shall extend the licence for such a period (not exceeding five years) as it thinks fit, if it is satisfied as to the following matters: 
“(a) the ability of the licence holder to maintain the service for the period of the extension; and
(b) the likelihood of a contravention by the licence holder of a requirement imposed by a condition included in the licence by virtue of section 106 of the 1990 Act.
Section 106(1) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 provides that a community radio licence shall include “such conditions as appear to OFCOM to be appropriate for securing that the character of the licensed service, as proposed by the licence holder when making his application, is maintained during the period for which the licence is in force”. For community radio licences, this is essentially referring to the ‘key commitments’ section of each station’s licence. Therefore, in considering any application for extension of a community radio licence, we will need to consider the likelihood of a licensee breaching any of its key commitments.
Completing the application form
The application form asks for:
•	The station’s predicted income and expenditure for the year starting from the expiry date of the current licence;
•	Information about the licensee’s financial situation at the time of applying; and
•	The licensee’s commitment to continue to deliver its key commitments (section 106 of the Broadcasting Act 1990).
In addition we require: 
•	Information about the company holding the licence, i.e. a completed and signed ‘original declaration’ form; and 
•	Latest annual accounts (if applicable).
The financial information, along with company accounts and the licensee’s annual financial reports that we have on file, is required in order to help us to understand the licensee’s finances and its ability to maintain the service in a new licence period.
The ‘original declaration’ is required so that we may check that the company and the directors comply with ownership and other statutory requirements.
No application fee is required for an application for a community radio station licence extension. 
Information that we will consider
When considering a request for a licence extension we will take account of the information that a licensee sends us as referred to above (application form, original declaration and company accounts). In addition, we will take into account the following information that we have on file:
•	The licensee’s annual reports which relate to its past delivery of key commitments and financial matters; and 
•	The licensee’s regulatory record, insofar as it is relevant to satisfying ourselves with regard to the statutory criteria referred to above.   
Further information
In addition to the information specified above, Ofcom may contact you for further information in order to assess your application for an extension of your licence. This may be, for instance, where Ofcom needs to clarify the information you have provided in this application form.
Data Protection
We require the information requested in this form in order to carry out our licensing duties under the Broadcasting Act 1990, Broadcasting Act 1996 and Communications Act 2003. Please see Ofcom’s General Privacy Statement www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/foi-dp/general-privacy-statement for further information about how Ofcom handles your personal information and your corresponding rights.
Making a decision
We will consider applications as soon as is reasonably practicable. However, applicants should be aware that it will sometimes take some time to make a decision if, for example, we need to seek clarification about an application or related matters. When we have made a decision, we will write to the licensee. In addition, we will announce licence extension decisions in our Radio Broadcasting Monthly Update.

Application form for community radio licence extension

Applicant’s details:

Licence Number

Station Name

Registered company that holds the licence

Launch Date

Name and contact details for this application
Name:		
Position:		
Email:		
Telephone:		
Address:		

Period of licence extension required i.e. state if you would like a maximum five-year extension or a specific period of less than five years and, if so, what period

Financial information
Predicted expenditure for one year from the date of current licence expiry
How much do you think it will cost to operate your service during the first year of the extended licence?
OUTGOINGS	Notes		
Items:	Please include any additional information that you think might be helpful below:	Year 1 Totals (£s)	
Hp / Leasing			
General and Administration			
 - Staff (please specify roles and salaries)			
 - Premises			
 - Legal and Professional			
 - Establishment/overheads			
Engineering			
 - Transmitter operating costs			
 - Other (specify)			
Programming			
 - Copyright fees			
 - Music library 			
 - Acquired programming			
 - News service			
 - Other (specify)			
Sales cost / commissions			
Marketing and promotion 			
Audience research 			
Ofcom licence fees			
Others (these should be specified)			
			
Total Outgoings			

Predicted cash income for one year from the date of current licence expiry
How do you expect to fund your service during the first year of the extended licence? [Please add rows as may be required.]
Confirmed (secured) Cash Funding:	
Details of Funding Provider:	Terms and conditions placed on funding (if any).	Amount of Funding (£s).	% of Total Funding	

	
Unconfirmed (not yet secured) Cash Funding:	

	
Commercial and Other 'in-house' Sources	
On-air spot advertising 				
Programme sponsorship				
Commercial revenues from off-air activities				
'In-house' non-commercial revenues				

Total First Year Income and Revenue Funding:		(Total 100%)	

Contingency plans
If there is short-fall in the resources during the first year of the extended licence period, please explain below how you would cover any outstanding costs. Please explain what you would intend to do with any additional resources, if there is a surplus.

Predicted in-kind income for one year from the date of current licence expiry
What in-kind support do you expect to have for your service during the first year of the extended licence? [Please add rows as may be required.]
Confirmed (secured) 'In-Kind' Support	
Details of 'In-Kind' Support Provider:	Terms and conditions placed on this 'in-kind' support (if any).	Estimated equivalent value of support (£s).	For each item please show % of total 'in-kind' support	

				
Unconfirmed (not yet secured) 'In-Kind' Support e.g. Volunteer support	

	
		Total Value of First Year 'In-Kind' Support:		(Total 100%)	

Current financial position
Please provide information relating to the company’s financial situation at the time of applying.  This should include:
•	A breakdown of debtors (i.e. amounts owed to the company) and creditors (i.e. amounts owed by the company) and the amount of cash in the bank as at a) the most recent financial year end and b) the date of application for an extension. Please reconcile the cash position at the date of application for an extension to a copy of your bank statement.  
•	A breakdown of income and expenditure for a) the most recent financial year and b) the period between the end of the last financial year and the time of application for an extension. 
•	If expenditure exceeded income in the most recent financial year please provide details of how the company financed the shortfall.
•	If available, a copy of the company’s most recent set of financial accounts. 
•	Any other information you think is relevant to enable Ofcom to assess the company’s current financial health.  

	

Key Commitments
Please confirm that the station will continue to deliver its Key Commitments, with details on how this will be achieved.

	

Other information
Please supply any further information which you think may assist in your application for an extension of your community radio licence.

	

Original declaration
Please complete and sign the ‘original declaration’ form (provided separately), regarding directors and ownership and return it together with this application form.

Declaration
I hereby apply to Ofcom for a community radio licence extension for 
[Insert name of Applicant Company here]
and declare that the information given in this application and any additional documentation is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct.  
Name: (Block Capitals):	 	
Position:		
Date:		
Signed