The RSL, Ultra Local Radio

A Restricted Service Licence radio station may run for a maximum of 28 days. It has a very limited range, usually about a three mile radius. They are used for a variety of purposes, for example as a test bed for a permanent licence, as a community function, or a a teaching aid. Since 1991 almost 3,000 licences have been issued for RSL stations, which have involved an estimated 20,000 RSL broadcasters. "The RSL, Ultra Local Radio" uses the group of Millennium RSL stations, which ran over the Christmas and New Year period 2000, to assess the value of RSLs in terms of the satisfaction of the organisers and their audiences and in relation to broadcasting more generally. RSLs provide information and entertainment, which is unavailable in the mainstream media. As commercial radio becomes more homogenised by the big players, are RSLs fulfilling the role of the minority audience broadcaster? This book looks at current practice but reflects on how the RSL developed and speculates on what may happen in the future. RSLs may be viewed as part of the community radio movement and this role is explored. The RSL system had made running a radio station available to almost anyone. The second part of the book, gives some down to earth guidance on running an RSL, based on the practices of the sample stations and the author's own experience. Above all this work seeks to show the pleasure, and enthusiasm that RSLs bring to their broadcasters and their listeners.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1 Chapter One; The RSL; Other Models; Background; The Spectrum; Community Radio; Luton FM; 'So what's new?'; 2 Chapter Two; The Millennium Stations; Limitations of the Sample; The Broadcasters; The Audience; Content; Funding; Publicity; Keeping going; Unlicensed Broadcasters; Conclusion; Personnel; Teaching difficulties; Planning; 3 Chapter Three; The Future; Cable; Digital Radio; Satellite; The Internet; 4 Chapter Four; So you want to run an RSL?; The RA application form; The people involved; Other matters of personnel; The Broadcasters; The Focus of the Station; The Audience; The Period ofthe Licence; Licences for Sports events; Tests and Pilots; Dates, hours and content; The Transmission Site; The Location of the Studio; Power and Frequency; Technical assistance; Interference; Planning and courtesy; RDS; Finance; The 'Books'; Marketing and Publicity; Final Reminder; 5 Chapter Five; Legal matters and Wise Counsel; Logging; Complaints procedure; Technical Compliance; Insurance and Public liability; Planning permission; Ethics and Impartiality; Copyright; Music Copyright; Spoken Word Copyright; Libel; Contempt of Court; Elections; Logging phone calls; Prizes; Charity; On-Air pleas; Courtesy; Common Sense; 6 Chapter Six; 'On Air' and Evaluation Training Programme Planning Ideas Keeping going Finishing up Other indicators Do you want to run another RSL? Conclusion; Appendix 1 - The Millennium Stations Database; Appendix 2 - Useful Addresses.