Amateur Radio Licence De-Regulation

News and information about Amateur Radio from Scotland

OFCOM MORI report on
amateur radio licensing

As part of its consultation on proposals to reform amateur radio licensing, Ofcom commissioned MORI to assess the views and opinions of a sample of licence holders.The survey was designed to inform Ofcom's policy making and complement the findings of the formal consultation process.

A total of 4,500 amateur radio licence holders were selected to the sample and sent a copy of the questionnaire and accompanying materials. There were 1,572 completed questionnaires returned by the closing date of 20 June 2005. The survey covered holders of the three licence types — full, intermediate and foundation. The survey sought licensees' views on Ofcom's proposals and also provided information on the amateur radio community, such as membership of societies.

94 returns were received from Scottish Radio Amateurs, representing about 6% of the total returns - meaning that the Scottish impact is somewhat less than the normal 10% of the UK population.

MORI Executive Summary

Opinions on future licensing arrangements

When asked which of four options they consider to be the best way forward for amateur radio licensing, 45% of licensees opt for life-time licensing. Just over a quarter would prefer to keep the existing licensing arrangement and the same proportion would prefer to replace the existing arrangement with a longer renewal period (26% in each case).
Only 1% of licensees think that the licence should be abolished altogether and fewer than 1% think the current licence should be replaced with something else.
Members of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) are equally likely to opt for a longer renewal period as they are to prefer life-time licences (33% in each case). Marginally fewer (31%) opt for retaining the existing licensing arrangement.
Those who are members of clubs other than the RSGB and those who do not belong to any amateur radio club or society are more likely to opt for a life-time licence (49% and 54% respectively) than retaining the existing arrangement (25% and 21% respectively) or opt for a longer licence renewal period (22% and 21% respectively).
Six in 10 of those who would like a longer renewal period would prefer a five year, just less than a quarter (23%) would prefer a three year and 10% a 10 year renewal period.

Opinions on current licensing arrangements

When asked specifically their opinion of the current licensing arrangement, two thirds of licensees feel it is "about right" on a five point scale ranging from "too strict" to "too relaxed".
Those who think the best way forward, from the four possible options, is to retain the existing arrangement are more likely than those who prefer life-time licensing or a longer renewal period to think the current arrangement is "too relaxed".
Those who prefer life-time licensing are more likely to think the existing arrangement is "too strict".

Opinions on life-time licences

When specifically asked whether they supported or opposed Ofcom issuing "licences that remain valid for the life of the licensee", 58% claim to support this move.
This level of support rises to 93% among those who, from the four possible options for the best way forward, opted for the life-time licence. However, the levels of support for life-time licensing amongst those who opted to retain the existing arrangement or for a longer renewal period are lower at 27% and 26% respectively.

Opinions on electronic licences

When specifically asked whether they supported or opposed Ofcom's possible "move to an electronic (online web based) licensing process" just over two in five (41%) claim to support the move.
This level of support rises to over half (54%) among those who, from the four options for the best way forward for licensing, opted for the life-time licence. This falls to 19% among those who opted to retain the existing licensing arrangements.
The majority (86%) of licence holders use the Internet and 43% only use it at home.
One in eight (13%) licence holders does not use the Internet. Among those in this sub-sample, almost two thirds (64%) oppose the move to electronic licensing.

Willingness to pay to obtain a licence by post

Costs given as "reasonable" for the option to renew a licence by post range from free of charge to £50. The average cost is £11.67.
Amongst those aged under 21 or 65 and over the average "reasonable" costs given are lower: £8.32 and £11.04 respectively. Those who do not use the Internet gave a lower average "reasonable" cost (£10.54) than those who do (£11.83).

Willingness to pay for a Notice of Variation

Costs given as "reasonable" for obtaining a Notice of Variation range from free of charge to £99, with an average cost of £10.13. Those aged under 21 gave the lowest average "reasonable" cost (£6.78) and those aged 45–64 the highest (£10.80).