§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions apply to the siting of digital television transmitting and receiving stations on rooftops; who can apply for permission for such siting; and to which Government Department. [102053]
§ Ms HewittThe siting of digital television transmission and reception equipment is a matter for local planning authorities in the context of Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications (PPG8 revised), and circular 4/99: Planning for Telecommunications, copies of which are available from the Library of the House.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many digital television transmitting and receiving stations there are in London. [102055]
§ Ms HewittThere is one prime Digital Terrestrial transmitter site that covers London. This is located at Crystal Palace. With respect to receiving stations, this is potentially every household that has a UHF aerial. In addition, a number of broadcasters up-link their programmes material from within the London area to satellites for onward transmission, either direct to the home (e.g. for some BskyB services), or to cable head ends for subsequent distribution to the home through cable networks.
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§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the lowest permissible height for digital television transmitting and receiving stations. [102054]
§ Ms HewittDigital equipment is sited to deliver the best transmission and reception arrangements. For digital UHF, the higher the aerial the better the reception. Higher sited transmit antennas will also send a signal further, but with a greater potential for interference with other radio transmitters. The siting of the transmission masts and stations is a matter for local planning authorities in accordance with Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications (PPG8 revised) and circular 4/99: Planning for Telecommunications, copies of which are available from the Library of the House.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which frequencies have been granted to News International Digital Television by the Radio Authority. [102052]
§ Ms HewittRacal Telecom hold a number of licences which are issued by the Radiocommunications Agency, under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, to use the radio spectrum to up-link material to satellites for onward transmission from the News International building at Wapping. The bands used for this purpose are at 14GHz. The Radio Authority has issued no licences under the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 in relation to sound broadcasting services over these frequencies.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he granted a licence for News International to place a digital television transmitting and receiving station on the roof of its building in Wapping. [102056]
§ Ms HewittLicences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 for the use of radio transmission equipment (satellite up-links) at the News International Building in Wapping were issued to Racal Telecom on 12 January 1999, 2 February 1999 and 31 March 1999. For the most part, (with the notable exception of the Television Reception Licence used to finance the BBC), receiving stations are exempt from licensing under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.