Radio Stations (International Waters) (Hansard, 19 November 1985)

§ Mr. Butcher

The Government are seriously concerned at the activities of unlicensed marine broadcasters who use radio frequencies allocated for other, legitimate purposes, and whose powerful unregulated transmissions can and do cause interference to other radio users, including safety of life services. For example, helicopter navigational beacons in the North sea have been permanently disrupted by pirate transmissions on frequencies close to the beacons, and marine radio services and navigational beacons have been disrupted by faulty transmitters on individual occasions. The arrival of Radio Caroline interfered with transmissions on certain university and hospital radios, which had to change frequencies at considerable expense. The frequency 558 kHz used by Radio Laser and now in use by Radio Caroline has been allocated to BBC Radio Essex by international agreement, and existing broadcasts from Irish and German stations have suffered interference.

Frequency assignment is a complex process. The spectrum space available is allocated by international agreement and by the DTI as the nationals regulatory body. Pirate broadcasters cut across this and steal scarce spectrum to the detriment of lawful users.

The Government also have international obligations, as International Radio Regulation 2665 prohibits broadcasting from ships outside national territories. The United Kingdom is a signatory to a 1965 European convention in which signatories undertook to take steps to prevent broadcasts through legislative means.

It is open to those who wish to broadcast from within the United Kingdom to apply for Independent Broadcasting Authority franchises when these are advertised from time to time. It was also open to unlicensed broadcasters to apply for experimental community radio licences before the deadline of 31 October 1985.