Part 5: Regulation of radio services Section 47: Radio multiplex licences
This section amends Part 2 of the BA 1996 in relation to the application process for radio multiplex licences, and the conditions attached to these licences.
	An application for a licence will no longer be required to include proposals about the number and characteristics of digital radio services to broadcast on the multiplex. The effect of this section is to remove OFCOM’s function of overseeing the ‘line-ups’ of national and local radio multiplexes. This means that applicants for a national or local radio multiplex licence are required to satisfy OFCOM that they are able to deliver a service with sufficient geographical coverage and which is likely to be sustainable, and that they will act in a manner calculated to ensure fair and effective competition (as required by the remaining provisions of sections 46, 47, 50 and 51 of the BA 1996), but are otherwise free to decide the number and nature of radio stations which they carry. This change, which reflects the maturity of the digital radio market and the availability of a wide range of radio stations across the UK, will allow for simpler arrangements between multiplex operators and OFCOM.