§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans she has made for switching off analogue radio signals; what the likely timescale is; what criteria will be applied; what target she has set for the proportion of households with access to digital technology before the analogue signal is switched off; and if she will make a statement; [184127]
(2) what representations she has received regarding the switching off of analogue radio signals; and if she will make a statement. [184131]
§ Estelle MorrisSection 67 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 requires the Secretary of State to keep under review the development of digital radio for the purposes of considering how long it would be appropriate for sound broadcasting services to be provided in analogue form.
In particular, the Act requires her, on or before the fourth anniversary on which the first national digital multiplex is granted, to ask Ofcom and the BBC to report on the current position and future prospects for the provision of radio multiplex services; the availability 136W of digital sound programme services and existing analogue services in digital form; and the ownership or possession of equipment capable of receiving digital sound services. These reports are to be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 October. A number of other industry bodies have also been asked to submit any comments they wish to make. All contributions will be considered alongside the BBC and Ofcom reports, and the Government will publish their response.