Digital Broadcasting: Radio
Culture Media and Sport
John Spellar (Warley, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on switching radio from FM to digital; what assessment he has made of the potential effects of this switch on vehicle users; and if he will make a statement.
Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)
A radio switchover would only begin following the satisfaction of the Digital Radio Switchover criteria, which are:
(i) When 50% of all listening is to digital;
(ii) When national DAB coverage is comparable to FM; and local DAB reaches 90% of the population and all major roads.
The Digital Radio Action Plan launched in 2010 and sets out the process for assessing the impact of a digital radio switchover for vehicle users, as well as what would be required to minimise any negative impacts.
The action plan is updated on a quarterly basis and is available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Digital_RadioActionPlanDec11.pdf