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ComReg & BCI musr re-examine community radio licensing following church station shutdown

Issued : Monday 8 May, 2006

Labour’s Communications Spokesperson has called on Minister Noel Dempsey to request the Communications Regulator, ComReg, and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to urgently re-examine their policy on local and community radio licensing following the shut down of pirate church radio stations around the country.

Deputy Broughan commented, “On the “Liveline” programme this afternoon, Joe Dufffy, highlighted the severe loss felt by citizens with disabilities and others who are unable to attend their local mass but benefited from the illegal broadcasting of the service by parishes around the country. ComReg has closed down these broadcasting operations because they have no licence and there were alleged complaints by the Aviation Authority.

“Clearly it is essential that all radio stations operate within the law and the proper regulatory framework. Would-be broadcasters must compete for available spectrum in a fair and transparent manner. But BCI has so far licensed very few community radio stations. By comparison a city like Stockholm has over 60 radio stations, including national, regional, community and local.

“Responsibility for the regulation of the spectrum is also divided in Ireland between the BCI, as the licensing authority, and ComReg, which regulates the spectrum itself. In the UK, by contrast, the communications regulator, Ofcom, exercises authority over spectrum and licensing sectors.

“In these circumstances, ComReg should note sympathetically the aspirations of local community and parish bodies who wish to broadcast. If there is available analogue spectrum which does not interfere with essential services or commercial national and local radio stations than community and local bodies should be facilitated to broadcast wherever possible.”