29 June 2010 - FCS asks Government for a strategic review of the value of business radio to the nation
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29 Jun 2010
London 29 June 2010: The FCS, representing the interests of the UK business radio community, proposes a strategic review of the value of business radio to the nation following a wide ranging study of the sector.
Business radio companies have said they do not believe that market mechanisms for allocating spectrum, which is current Ofcom policy, are suitable for this sector. A new directed management approach to allocation may be necessary to ensure that spectrum is available in future. This is the startling outcome of FCS research published this week
Business radio supports many aspects of UK business and organisational life for day to day operations, resilience, disaster recovery and safety arrangements. In many cases there is no substitute service as the entire system architecture is completely different from public telephony services. Trains, ports, tower cranes, security guards all need business radio services to function and radio spectrum to deliver these services now and into the future
The research carried out for FCS by Tim Cull of Telecom Policy Services in April and May 2010 highlights new technologies that combat spectrum congestion problems and meet enhanced user requirements. The report shows that flexible regulation will be needed to ensure the UK can adopt these new efficiencies.
Jacqui Brookes, FCS CEO, in welcoming the report said, “This is a unique and comprehensive study bringing together the consensus view of the UK business radio sector. In response to the report we are asking the new Government to consider setting up a strategic review. This would look at the value to the nation of this central service, ensuring that regulatory policies and spectrum allocation support the underlying infrastructure of the economy provided by business radio”
The full report can be found here and for a summary of the findings click here.