§ Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been reached on the allocation of radio frequency spectrum to allow the introduction of digital audio broadcasting into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Government have decided to make available the frequency band 217.5 MHz to 230 MHz to enable terrestrial digital audio broadcasting—TDAB —services to begin in the United Kingdom. Broadcasters and equipment manufacturers will now be able to make plans for sound broadcasting services and for the production of receivers with more certainty.
The various interests which were brought together by the President of the Board of Trade in February in a DAB forum, which has the aim of promoting plans for the introduction of this important new development into the United Kingdom, will also now be better placed to take investment and other decision, taking into account factors such as the benefits to listeners and the potential for business opportunities which will be created within and outside the United Kingdom.
The DAB forum has enabled the various interests to make significant progress in planning for the introduction of DAB including the technical details, the business issues and the regulatory environment. This has built on the success of the Eureka project in which the United Kingdom —(notably the BBC—played a leading role, and has helped the United Kingdom remain in the vanguard of this exciting new challenge and opportunity for broadcasters and manufacturers.
The Government's decision to make available scarce frequencies in a prime location in the radio spectrum to allow services to start up is a further demonstration of our commitment to play a full part in enabling the devolopment of DAB in this country for the benefit of United Kingdom industry as well as United Kingdom listeners.