In its latest report on Small-Scale DAB (SSDAB) licensing, Ofcom notes the steady progress made in expanding digital radio access across the UK, outlining the growth in SSDAB multiplexes and the range of community and commercial services now broadcasting. While Ofcom’s findings highlight the successes of this rollout, the report also reveals significant challenges around financial viability, technical barriers, and varying levels of demand between urban and rural areas.
However, a more critical examination of Ofcom’s conclusions would ask whether the current framework truly serves the public interest, or if it leans too heavily towards market-driven metrics that overlook citizen-focused priorities. The report lacks a clear commitment to public-purpose media that could strengthen community cohesion, amplify local voices, and meet the unique needs of underrepresented groups. Instead, the emphasis remains on operational figures and technical hurdles without questioning the broader value SSDAB should bring to local residents and civic life.
For those invested in grassroots media, a deeper critique might press Ofcom to provide evidence that SSDAB is enhancing democratic participation, fostering inclusive content, and supporting sustainable community radio. This conversation is not just about expanding media access—it’s about ensuring that digital radio serves as a platform for meaningful public discourse and empowers communities with diverse, citizen-oriented programming.
Here’s a list of critical questions designed to challenge Ofcom’s conclusions in the SSDAB progress report from a public-interest perspective:
- Citizen-Centred Value
- How does Ofcom measure the public-purpose value that SSDAB brings to local communities, especially regarding civic and social engagement?
- What specific evidence or metrics does Ofcom use to ensure SSDAB services meet the needs of citizens, not just commercial interests?
- Lack of Public-Interest Focus
- Given the importance of public-purpose media, why does this report largely overlook the role of SSDAB in fostering community-led initiatives that promote social cohesion and local identity?
- How does Ofcom plan to ensure that SSDAB platforms are not dominated by commercially motivated content that might sideline local and citizen-focused services?
- Community and Stakeholder Input
- Was there an opportunity for local communities and other stakeholders to provide testimony or evidence to Ofcom on their needs and expectations for SSDAB?
- Why are there no case studies or testimonials in this report from community stakeholders on the impact of SSDAB in their areas?
- Support and Resources for Community Radio
- What specific support mechanisms does Ofcom have in place to help local, grassroots radio stations transition from analogue to digital on SSDAB?
- Is there evidence that SSDAB has improved sustainability for community radio stations, or does it simply add to their operational costs without providing significant benefits?
- Financial Viability in Low-Population Areas
- Ofcom notes that multiplexes in less populated areas face financial viability issues. What specific steps has Ofcom taken to address the sustainability of SSDAB in rural or sparsely populated areas?
- Is there an inherent structural bias in Ofcom’s approach that favours urban or densely populated areas where SSDAB is more profitable?
- Barriers to Entry for New Community Services
- How does Ofcom ensure that the SSDAB licensing process is accessible and affordable for small, community-focused organisations?
- Are the requirements for securing licences (e.g., technical plans and transmitter sites) realistic for community organisations with limited resources?
- Long-Term Impact on Local Radio
- Does Ofcom have a long-term plan to assess the role of SSDAB in sustaining a diverse, community-oriented local radio landscape, as opposed to one dominated by larger commercial entities?
- How does Ofcom reconcile the potential decline of FM with a meaningful increase in SSDAB that prioritises public-purpose over commercial interests?
- Insufficient Focus on Innovation and Public Service Content
- The report praises SSDAB for expanding choice, but how does Ofcom assess the quality and public-service orientation of the additional stations it enables?
- Without a clear strategy to promote content diversity and public-service journalism, how does Ofcom prevent SSDAB from becoming just another platform for commercially driven, homogenised content?
- Evaluating SSDAB’s Role in Democratic Participation
- How does Ofcom evaluate the role of SSDAB in supporting democratic participation, particularly in providing a platform for marginalised voices and local civic discourse?
- Is there a risk that SSDAB’s market-driven model inadvertently excludes the very communities it is intended to serve by failing to prioritise accessible, public-purpose programming?
- Oversight and Accountability for Community Impact
- What mechanisms are in place to ensure that SSDAB licence holders deliver on commitments to community objectives, particularly for C-DSP licence holders?
- Given that 12% of awarded licences failed to launch, does Ofcom review the organisational structures and community commitments of licence applicants to minimise future non-launches?
- Investment in Public-Interest Media Development
- Has Ofcom allocated any resources to encourage SSDAB platforms to invest in public-interest programming, particularly in underserved areas?
- Why does the report lacks specific references to Ofcom’s support for SSDAB stations to create content with educational, cultural, or civic value?
These questions aim to challenge Ofcom’s approach and the conclusions in the report, advocating for a stronger focus on public-purpose media that meets the broader civic needs of local communities and prioritises access, diversity, and citizen engagement.