Community group hopes sparks turn to Flame in Bankstown licence allocation

The Consortium of Australian Media Services (CAMS) is holding its breath in anticipation of an imminent decision by ACMA to allocate a suburban community licence in the Auburn and Bankstown areas of Sydney.

The Bankstown based CAMS has been operating Flame FM on a temporary license shared by three other groups since 2008 and has been working to achieve a full time licence since 2004.

CAMS spokesperson Joseph Safi has told radioinfo Flame FM is “holding high hopes that they will be granted the license in the interests of the public and the broadcasting industry in the area.”

ACMA’s only official comment at this time is that “a decision will be announced shortly.”

A screen shot from Flame FM’s website:

 

In 2007 the ACMA withdrew a long held broadcasting license from Bankstown City Radio because they were judged not to be representing the community interest. Since that time 4 groups have been vying for the licence: Bankstown City Radio, Bankstown Auburn Community Radio, Flame FM and Bankstown and Surrounding Areas Community Radio, which is a Shiite Islamic station.

 Earlier this year two other groups CSR (Central Sydney Radio) and ABRR (Auburn Bankstown Regional Radio) amalgamated into Flame FM in order to strengthen that group’s application.

An ACMA spokesperson has told radioinfo:

“The licence on offer is a sub-metro licence to serve the Bankstown RA1 licence area, which includes Bankstown and Auburn. It is operating with a directional radiation pattern with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 200 watts, limited to 100 watts in certain directions. 

“By way of comparison, Sydney wide services will likely be operating with ERP between 100-150 Kilowatts (i.e 100,000 -150,000 Watts).”

 

An announcement on Sydney’s last available frequency is expected soon.

 

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