By theDoc, on December 13th, 2007%
Ofcom has issued a statement setting out what it describes as one of the most important decisions we have ever made: how to award the spectrum freed up by digital switchover, the digital dividend, for new users. The decision matters because the spectrum to be freed up is exceptional in that it can readily be used to provide high bandwidth services over long distances and into buildings, and because the opportunity to put this spectrum to new use does not arise often.
Ofcom favours a market led, service and technology neutral approach, arguing that giving spectrum to one use will tend to reduce flexibility and blunt incentives. The one exception to this market led approach is programme making and special events (PMSE) which already uses interleaved spectrum on a large scale. This is an extremely diverse community, and Ofcom considers that it would not be able to take part effectively in an auction. They will therefore award a package of interleaved spectrum to meet PMSE users needs.
Licence exempt use of interleaved spectrum will be allowed for Continue reading Digital Dividend Review statement
By theDoc, on December 5th, 2007%
The UK regulator, Ofcom, has published a statement on the framework for managing spectrum used by licence-exempt devices. The Spectrum Framework Review sets out Ofcom’s overall strategy for the management of spectrum through a market-based approach. In line with their duty to maximise the value and efficiency derived from the spectrum, the SFR suggests that spectrum use should be licence-exempt if the value that is expected to be derived from the spectrum under such an approach is predicted to be greater than if spectrum use were licenced. It also notes that, where interference is unlikely, licencing may present an unnecessary overhead.
The Licence-Exemption Framework Review extends the SFR by examining a number of specific Continue reading Licence-exemption framework review
By Roamer, on October 19th, 2007%
Yes, I can’t quite believe it but, after my call to OfCom yesterday, and then an email off to the RSGB as well, I got a reply telling me that they had just done the detail transfer over to OfCom and that if I retried they were sure I’d be successful this time.
So, I logged on to the online licencing system, and miracle of miracles – I was able to proceed with my foundation licence application, but then onto my next problem – the callsign.
Continue reading I’ve got my Amateur Radio Licence – Finally 
By Roamer, on October 18th, 2007%
Well, after being a little bit hacked off this morning I decided to contact OfCom to see if there were any problems with my application and/or my candidate number, and to my suprise I got hold of a very helpful bloke who said that all was ok and we started going through my choices of callsigns. Fantastic I thought… Continue reading I’ve got my Amateur Radio Licence – close but no cigar 
By Roamer, on October 17th, 2007%
This is the question I’ve been asking myself and others since Thursday when I passed my Foundation Amateur Radio exam.
The process is apparently as follows – On the night we took the exam the papers were marked and we got our results, then the papers were sent by post to the RSGB Continue reading Oh when will I get my radio licence?
