<p>Following the launch of the Digital Radio Action plan in 2010, local DAB coverage has increased from 66% to 72%. In October, the BBC announced plans to extend coverage for its national DAB services from 94% to 97.3% of households, and Arqiva has developed plans for the extension of national commercial DAB services from 84.9% to 91% of households to match Classic FM coverage.</p><p>We have always said that FM will continue to be an appropriate platform for smaller commercial stations and community radio. The vast majority of digital radio sets have FM included and this is mandated in the minimum technical specifications drawn up by industry as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan. This means that listeners who switch to digital radio will still be able to get local services on FM. We recognise the desire from small local and community radio stations to have a pathway onto the DAB platform and are working with Ofcom on examining the potential of new small scale DAB solutions following a successful trial earlier this year in Brighton.</p><p>Independent research carried out in Bath by IPSOS/Mori found that households were very positive about digital radio with 80% of participants rating it as better than analogue radio.</p>