What's the frequency, Minister?

The Department of Communications is to make a recommendation to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to make available more licenses for radio stations in the Dublin area, with a view to diversifying what’s currently on offer.

"The minister is anxious for more diversity with regard to radio stations in Dublin," says Richard Moore, press adviser for the Department of Communications. "Although it’s up to the BCI, we will be making a recommendation that music strands such as ethnic, RnB and blues are catered for."

According to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), the possibility of further frequency availability is currently being examined.

"There are two parts of the FM spectrum that are available to the commercial sector, with the other parts available to RTE, the aviation industry and emergency services etc," explains Aoife Clabby, Information Officer to the BCI. "The allocations of frequencies are governed by the ODTR. We have been working with the ODTR to see if there are frequencies available in the Dublin area for stations to broadcast on. We are still very much at the initial stage however, and hopefully by the first four or five months of next year, we will have identified if these frequencies are actually viable, never mind whether or not we’d be looking to license a station."

The decision as to which, if any, stations are granted a license is up to the Board of the BCI, who according to Clabby, are aware of the public demand for specialist stations.

"The Board recognise that there is a niche and an interest with regard to specialist stations. Given that we are trying to investigate what frequencies are available, there is a consciousness on the part of the Board to see is there something further we can do in the radio licensing area.

"If frequencies become available, the Board will seek expressions of interest through local and national newspaper advertising and, based on those expressions, applications will be processed."

This could prove encouraging news for local pirate stations such as Phantom FM who have failed in two previous attempts to go legal, but have made it known that they are still keen to secure a franchise.