Storey MLA calls for FUSE radio station to be licensed

Commenting Mervyn Storey said: “FUSE FM has been successfully operating on an RSL Licence since 2007. The popularity of this station can been seen by the many thousands of texts that the station receives while on air. I would pay tribute to all those associated with the station and congratulate them on another very successful time on the air waves.

“The Station has applied for a full time licence and it was with regard to that application that I have been in discussions with OFCOM.

OFCOM have informed me that they are still working on community radio applications from Scotland and will complete work on applications from there first.

“They expect that work to be complete in the next month or so. OFCOM have informed me that they are also currently licensing a number of local TV channels across the UK. So, while they are starting to assess Northern Ireland community radio applications, they only expect to be in a position to make a small number of licensing decisions early in the new year, with the bulk of the applications to be considered by their Broadcasting Licensing Committee in the first quarter of 2013.

“I would be very hopeful that the FUSE FM application will be given a fair hearing and I trust that 2013 will be the year we celebrate the granting of their Community Radio Licence.”