Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Twelfth Report - Draft Media Bill: Radio Measures
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
HC 1287
Published 21 July 2023
Recommendations
2
Accepted
Para 14
Amend proposed power to regulate localness requirements to require Ofcom consultation.
Recommendation
DCMS says that its intention is to use the power to make regulations regarding digital radio stations’ localness requirements only in consultation with Ofcom and other stakeholders. We cannot envisage a scenario in which it would be necessary for the …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and has already amended the Bill to require consultation with Ofcom when making regulations regarding localness requirements.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5
Accepted
Para 25
Urgently pursue technical engagement with stakeholders and provide progress update.
Recommendation
The radio industry and platforms raised legitimate concerns about the extent to which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has examined the implications of the legislation. That the Department did not publish a full impact assessment for the radio …
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Government Response Summary
The government asserts that it has extensively engaged with stakeholders on policy and technical details throughout the process, including making changes in response to concerns raised. Furthermore, it confirms that a full Regulatory Impact Assessment on Part 6 of the Bill has now been published and rated fit-for-purpose, directly addressing a key concern.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6
Accepted
Para 33
Proactively keep challenges of finding radio in in-car systems under close review.
Recommendation
The future risks to radio are not confined to voice-activated devices. Platforms can make it very hard for car drivers to find radio, simply by self-preferencing their own or others’ content and leaving listeners to swipe through later pages to …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and committed to proactively keep the issue of in-car infotainment systems and their impact on radio access under review.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7
Accepted
Para 34
Redraft power to amend radio selection service definition, requiring Ofcom consultation.
Recommendation
The Secretary of State’s power to amend the definition of a radio selection service is crucial for the future-proofing of the regulatory scheme, including for in-car systems as well as for new and emerging technologies. While we welcome Ofcom’s horizon-scanning …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and has already amended the Bill to require the Secretary of State to consult Ofcom before amending the definition of a radio selection service.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8
Accepted
Para 39
Amend Bill to enable Ofcom to de-designate legacy devices from provisions.
Recommendation
There is broad agreement between platforms and broadcasters on the need for provision in the Bill to ensure legacy devices can be exempted from requirements on radio selection services. We believe that allowing Ofcom to exempt some previously- designated devices …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and amended the Bill to include a specific process for radio selection services (RSS) to apply for de-designation of legacy devices.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11
Accepted
Para 44
Require statutory consultation with Ofcom and industry before designating radio selection services.
Recommendation
The Department told us that it intended to consult Ofcom and other stakeholders before changing the statutory conditions for designating a radio selection service but this does not appear in the Bill. If the Government intends to carry out consultation …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and amended the Bill to make consultation with Ofcom and industry stakeholders a statutory requirement before the Secretary of State makes secondary legislation on radio selection services.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13
Accepted
Para 52
Include explicit power to amend internet radio service definition, requiring Ofcom report and affirmative procedure.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Bill include an explicit power to amend the definition of an internet radio service. This would enable the current definition, which specifies that only stations providing online live simulcasts of their broadcast radio service and which …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and amended the Bill to include an explicit power to amend the definition of an internet radio service, requiring a report from Ofcom and affirmative parliamentary procedure, as recommended.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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