I had received a question about possible available frequencies for local radio in Kortrijk.
Neat.
Actually there are none that are "open".
Frequencies are tied to "approvals" to licencees and are granted with "permits". Some of them grant the operation (or exploit) to other parties not connected to their organization. This is legal according to the current law in Flanders, Belgium.
Most of the local stations have 100 Watt of ERP. In Kortrijk there were 2 that got more broadcast power, 501 Watt ERP and 1995 Watt ERP.
This is the list that shows all of the local outlets on FM, for Flanders : http://www.vlaamseregulatormedia.be/nl/omroepen/overzicht-lokale-radio-omroeporganisaties.aspx
So for the recent changes, and the interested person for "open" or free frequencies in Kortrijk,
I was assigned the "free" question, I could tell them the following :
The former Contact 105.3 is taken by VBRO (STL from Brughes)
The former Contact 104.9 now carries the program of "Family-Radio"
The local 106.4 MHz is off-air but this doesn't mean it is "open", it appears there is an issue with legal rights.
In Zwevegem nearby at 105.7 MHz Radio Europe has given up, their (weak) antenna that was located in the south of the community of Zwevegem and didn't perform very well for penetration in the city of Kortrijk.
Rumour sounds as they have returned their permit to the Flemish authorities.
That means it would not be available until the next round of public offering for FM frequencies (in 2016 at the earliest it seams, unless an intermittent round would be approved by government).
For the Kortrijk frequency it would mean that the legal composition would have to be altered after agreement of the current board and then they could be able to get back on air with an operative signal on FM. Right now the 106.4 MHz has been unused for quite some time now.
FM Frequencies are a squarce matter.
That's why VRM looks into the good usage of it, according to the plan of frequencies that they have made up in 2003. They act as a kind of "watch dog".
Right now there only two stations listed in Flanders as "off air" on their publicly available list.
Because there is a law in Belgium about public availibity, they should revail the actual permitted broadcast powers and locations, of which they currently do not.
More to follow on this matter..
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