Join our group to show the regulator how large and co-ordinated we are and how important PMSE is to the benefit of the UK, both economically and socially. Tell everyone you know about the problems that will ensue if we can't do our job properly anymore.

Ofcom is the regulator for radio frequencies in the UK and was formed through the Communications Act 2003. One of their duties is the co-ordination of analogue TV switchover to digital. In this process it will release spectrum for sale at auction to the highest bidder. This resource may then be 'tradable' through Spectrum Management Organisations (SMOs).

BEIRG has no intention of becoming an SMO. We do not have the resources or the experience or the capabilities to do so. Besides, other bidders may include the very large companies that use radio. The entertainment industries do not have the resources to compete with this.

We hope so. That's why we started our group. If our industry can make a strong enough representation to the regulator then we may be able to get some spectrum from the TV bands set aside for our use. It’s unlikely to be enough to meet all requirements however and for large numbers of frequencies it will become a matter of trading with other 'owners' or their SMOs. This may be difficult and expensive because radio mics require wide bandwidths of ‘quiet’ spectrum.

It may well be. It could be deregulated; it may be sold to a spectrum management organisation. Any decisions will be made after the Regional Radio Conference in 2006. Whatever decision is made, there could be serious problems for PMSE on a non-interference basis.

These will be taken over by SMOs who will issue licences at a commercial rate. We have to convince Ofcom that the frequencies should be reserved entirely for PMSE use. Otherwise, under Ofcom’s ‘liberalisation’ policy they could be shared with other services and thus reduce the ability to meet PMSE requirements.

As we understand it, their contract with Ofcom terminates in 2008. However, with all their experience it is probable that they will strive to become an SMO, either by ownership of spectrum or as a broker. For more information please contact them direct.

There is already unlicensed use of PMSE frequencies. This makes the problem worse because Ofcom can only judge our need for spectrum by the number of licences issued, and PMSE activity is therefore under-represented.

In future with a reduced amount of PMSE spectrum, unlicensed and therefore uncoordinated operation is more likely to cause interference to you, and to other users who may report you.

Spectrum that becomes non-PMSE in the future will be owned by SMO’s who will have a strong financial interest in suppressing unlicensed operation. The new services on their frequencies may make them unusable by PMSE.

This will depend upon the new licensing regime. If you have bought your licence from an SMO then they will probably be your first line of complaint. We understand that Ofcom will retain an enforcement role, and they are installing additional monitoring facilities that may help to trace interfering signals.