Since January 2009 when Ofcom announced that they would be clearing channel 69 of radio microphones there has been speculation about whether the government would provide compensation to users; they have recently confirmed that they will.Channel 69 is covered by a ‘Shared license’ for radio microphones and is used in situations where more than the 3 or 4 frequencies available free on channel 70 are required or, frequencies are required in an area of dense radio microphone use. The Ofcom decision to clear channel 69 has been made to allow for the development of the next generation of wireless broadband, and a new channel 38 has been created to provide a future home for the ‘Shared license’. Whilst many churches do not use channel 69, there are some that do especially the larger ones and those in our cities; for them the cost of replacement has been a concern.
Now with Ofcom’s announcement the government is offering to provide at least 55% of the replacement cost assuming that users held a Shared license in the 12 month period leading up to 2 February 2009 when the decision was announced. The equipment to be replaced must work and operate in channel 69, but not 38, which applies to most equipment apart from some professional ranges. The equipment must have been purchased before 30 June 2009.
You can find detailed information and register your claim on a dedicated website www.pmsefunding.co.uk, or you can call 0800 011 3617. Registration opens on the 23rd September and closes at the end of December 2010. If you need advice on the process, what you should do, or in choosing replacement equipment then please do contact us.
The original Ofcom statement can be read here.
2 Comments
Why was this not made more public, not only have a now got equipment that i cannot use after 2012 due to this, I’ve missed the cut off for compensation?! Plus surely when buying equipment, we should have been made aware of these changes???
There is no easy answer to this, certainly the government and industry have invested a large amount of money into awareness, however they were only in a position to notify licence holders directly. I would have expected that if you held a shared licence prior to the cut-off (which I believe was July 2009) then you should have received a notification letter from jfmg or their representatives.
As users of radio microphones we often make use of the free licence in channel 70, and as such the government have no record of our use. The manufacturers of radio microphones recommend that we do buy licences and if so we are much more likely to be compensated and kept informed.
In your situation I am afraid that you have little choice other than to continute to use channel 70 (for the time being) or replace your equipment.
Sorry.