Government Radio Audit Could Free Broadcast Space
An audit of the use of the radio spectrum in the UK has been commissioned by the Government with a view to freeing more space for broadcast services, allowing the creation of increasingly innovative products and generating more money for the Treasury.
The study will be lead by Professor Martin Cave of Warwick Business School, with the aim of “releasing the maximum amount of spectrum to the market” and increasing broadcasting opportunities for the development of new services.
The Government has already committed itself to spectrum liberalisation, allowing current licence holders to sell off unwanted or unused radio frequencies to third parties. As the Government is the UK’s largest single user of the radio spectrum, sale of its unused broadcast space could raise around £22.5 billion for the Treasury.
Media regulator Ofcom has already been appointed to manage the deregulation of the UK’s radio frequencies, allowing more services to share the airspace and extending the offerings currently available from broadcasters.
The use of radio signals is currently split into 11 categories for specific types of usage, including aeronautical and maritime, amateur and citizens and broadband fixed wireless access. Other categories defined by the regulator are those for broadcasting, business radio, programme making and special events. In addition the spectrum is divided for satellites, space science and non-operational licensing.
Under new proposals currently being debated with the watchdog and licence holders, these categories could be blurred, with three key licence types: business radio, fixed wireless access and fixed wireless services being addressed as a priority. The watchdog states that holders of these licence types could benefit from deregulation before the end of the year (see Ofcom To Free Radio Spectrum For Multiple Uses).
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk
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