Ofcom has consulted on a licensing regime for community television relay services (commonly referred to as “self-help relays”).
Self-help relays are used by communities to receive television in areas where analogue reception is very poor, or unavailable. At digital switchover, relay operators will need to take some action (adjustment, upgrade, or replacement of the transmitter) for the relay to continue to work. Changes to the technical parameters for the relay will need to be planned to ensure that interference is not caused to other services, and the relay will need to be licensed by Ofcom under the Wireless Telegraphy Act.
This statement summarises the most important points raised by respondents to the consultation on Self help TV relays and digital switchover published on 7 December 2006. The consultation closed on 1 March 2007. The statement sets out Ofcom’s decisions in relation to the proposed Wireless Telegraphy Act licensing regime for digital self help relays and explains the reasoning behind the decisions.
