The Importance of Logging

Radio stations in the United Kingdom are required by their licence conditions to maintain a recorded log of their broadcasts.

The importance of simply having this facility and ensuring it is in operation has been highlighted recently in a complaint made about a part-time radio station.

Ofcom has released details of the complaint against Hilltown FM in Dundee. Four complaints were received about swearing during daytime and evening programmes.

Ofcom were unable to listen to the remarks in question, because the station did not have a functional logging system, and therefore the complaint could not be investigated.

The regulator found the Restricted Service Licence station to be in breach of condition 8 of its licence, and will hold it on record, should any further problems recur.

Belfast-based Féile FM also had complaints against it for swearing around a year ago, but again failed to provide a recording of the output and was also found to be in breach of condition 8 of their licence.

RSL stations, as with full time broadcasters, are required to record and retain a copy of their output for 42 days.