LOCAL TELEVISION

Early day motion 88, tabled 26 May 2010 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House notes that Ofcom has described community radio as `one of the best things...that we have done...far more successful than anybody anticipated'; recognises the opportunity now exists to enable communities to develop their own free-to-air television stations as a platform for news, information, discussion, entertainment and advertising; believes it is important to avoid creating spectrum gatekeepers able to abuse their market power in the supply of spectrum suitable for community-based television services; and calls on the Government and Ofcom to co-operate to implement a licensing regime so that Freeview and cable carriage is secured for the roll-out of a new tier of local television across the UK with priority on the electronic programme guide.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 14, Conservative 7, Plaid Cymru 3, Alliance 1, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.