On 30 June 2009, Ofcom published a statement setting out its decision to clear the entire 800MHz band. This means that if you have wireless equipment such as radio microphones and/or in-ear monitors which operate in channels 61-69, they will be rendered obsolete by 2012/2013. Enforced eviction from the 800MHz band will mean major cost implications for everyone who owns affected equipment.
Ofcom and the Government agreed to the principle of putting a funding mechanism to replace affected equipment. Last week, Ofcom published a consultation - Clearing the 800 MHz band; Funding for programme making and special events - setting out the proposals by which PMSE equipment owners will be eligible for funding, and under what criteria. These criteria fall a long way short of what is required.
Owners of ALL PMSE equipment MUST respond to this consultation document if they are to stand any chance of being able to influence the eligibility criteria that Ofcom has set out. The only way that users stand any chance of effecting changes to the current proposals is by speaking up now! Ofcom's Key Funding Proposals . . .
Who/which equipment will be eligible for funding under the current proposals set out by the consultation?
- Equipment hire companies that did not need to be licensed should be eligible for funding, subject to providing clear verifiable evidence that renting, not operating, PMSE equipment is the basis of their operations.
- Aside from the exception of rental companies, only those who held a channel 69 license on 2 February 2009 or during the previous 12 months will be eligible, subject to verification by the JFMG licensing database.
- Only equipment that was purchased before 2nd February 2009 or was bought between 2nd February 2009 and 30th June 2009 for 'compelling' reasons will be eligible with various demanding justifications.
- Only equipment that is tuneable to channel 69 will be considered as eligible for funding subject to strict criteria.
Who/which equipment will NOT be eligible for funding under the current proposals set out by the consultation?
- Equipment purchased after 30 June 2009. It is Ofcom's view that their new 'bandplan' for channels 38-40 will mean that nobody will need to buy channel 69 equipment again.
- Those who did not have a channel 69 licence on 2nd February or up to 12 months before and had no legitimate reasons for allowing licences to lapse
- Equipment that is not tuneable to channel 69 (unless there are 'compelling reasons' otherwise). Ofcom's position is that although equipment that is tuneable to channels 61-68 is being affected (rendered obsolete) by the clearance of the 800 MHz band, only channel 69 gear will be eligible because they believe that they have provided sufficient termination of access notice for channels 61-68.
How much will equipment owners be allowed to claim?
- Ofcom are proposing that the amounts involved will be based on the residual value of the equipment for the period starting on January 1st 2012 until the end of its 'useful life' with the end of 2018 as a cut-off date (Under this proposal, there will be a maximum residual value of any equipment of 7 years). Ofcom's reasoning for this is that users would not have reasonably expected to be able to use channel 69 after this date.
- There are other detailed questions and proposals on methodology of equipment valuation and funding calculation that need to be addressed
What BEIRG says . . .
While we welcome the fact that Ofcom considers that the PMSE community warrants a 51-page funding consultation document, dis
