Applications for FM invited

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 29

Applications for FM invited

Wellington reporter The Broadcasting Tribunal will call next year for applications to set up FM radio outside Auckland.

It is now calling for applications for two FM licenses for commercial radio in Auckland and inviting parties interested in FM commercial broadcasting outside Auckland to lodge a notice of intent to apply for a licence. Having receiving these notices it will establish an order for hearings and call progressively for applications.

In regulations gazetted late last month, the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Cooper) directed the tribunal to note that:

• FM broadcasting should be developed first in the 8893MHz band and then in band 94-100 MHz as other services were cleared.

© Some frequencies must not be assigned but kept for later developments .in FM broadcasting not yet foreseen.

® FM transmitters should be sited where practicable with television transmitters; otherwise within one kilometre of a television transmitter.

© Differences between a licence-holder and the Broadcasting Corporation on a siting agreement be settled by arbitration.

Also in the regulations.

promulagated under the Broadcasting Act, 1976. Mr Cooper defined Government policy on FM radio. FM broadcasting should be introduced without delay, the Corporation should use the modulation to extend its Concert Programme to provincial areas in which radio reception of that programme is not satisfactory, as resources permit, the corporation should progressively convert the YC stations to FM, short-term FM broadcasting should be authorised for community purposes, and outside the larger urban areas local groups should be encouraged to set up locally owned stations on a commercial or non-commercial basis to relay programmes from other licence-holders and develop local broadcasting ventures for limited period. The regulations ban simultaneous broadcasting by FM and AM radio on the same channel, except where an area would otherwise be unserviced, but allow simultaneous broadcasting of news, current affairs, and special events. They allow existing licence holders to hold FM licences and interests in licences, and permit applications by newspaper companies for licences. The latter would be considered on their merits together with applications by other applicants, the regulations sav.