The best applicant will be awarded a package of radio frequencies or 'spectrum bands' that content producers depend on for the use of essential wireless equipment, including radio microphones, in-ear monitoring and wireless cameras.
For Ofcom, these 'beauty contests' are an unusual way of releasing spectrum. Generally speaking, bands that are 'freed up' for whatever reason are auctioned and awarded to the highest bidder. However, Ofcom has recognised that this would not work in the case of the Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) sector, which would be faced with market failure if forced to bid against users with deeper pockets.
So, thanks to the efforts of the British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG) and PLASA, the sector's ongoing spectrum access will hopefully be secured by Ofcom awarding the frequencies to a band manager with special obligations to PMSE. However, as those who have read the consultations will know, it is not as simple as that. Under Ofcom's current proposals, the band manager's obligations to the sector will cease in 2018, so any protected access will disappear at that point. To put it bluntly, the band manager will be able to license its frequencies to whoever it wants, and charge whatever it likes.
"This", says Matthew Griffiths, "is the primary reason for PLASA putting its name forward; as band manager, we would be committed to the needs of the PMSE sector up to 2018 and beyond. But in order to do this, we need to win, and in order to win, we need to satisfy Ofcom's selection criteria and show them that we can do the job. Our current efforts are focused on this."
The immediate next step for PLASA (and all other applicants) is to respond to the consultation on detailed award design. Once this is finished and the responses digested, Ofcom expect to make the regulations in Autumn, invite applications in Winter and make a decision in Spring 2010.
Readers of Lighting&Sound and LSIOnline are urged to look out for further developments in this process, as the industry will be invited to comment on the applications.
(Lee Baldock)
