Dutch telecom regulator to auction regional commercial FM licenses
Dutch telecom regulator Agentschap Telecom (AT), announced it will soon distribute a number of licenses for regional commercial radio stations. From 8 April to 6 May, the AT will open the application procedure for the conditional auction of 26 permits. The auction will cover the lots B01, B03, B04, B06 to B26, B35 and B37. The FM license also includes one for digital radio (DAB+). The permits will run until 1 September 2025.
The current license holders have surrendered their licenses under a resolutive condition. At a number of moments during the application and auction procedure, the current license holders have the option of invoking a resolutive condition. This allows the current license holders to cancel the request to withdraw the licenses concerned. If a current license holder invokes a resolutive condition, the licenses concerned will not be auctioned or will be withdrawn from the auction shortly after the end of the auction.
Applications can be submitted from April 8, 2022 up to and including May 6, 2022 using the appropriate application form. This application form can be found in the appendices to the Conditional Auction Regulations for Non-National Commercial FM Licenses. This regulation contains all the rules and regulations that apply to this distribution, such as the requirement that only legal entities can submit an application.
In addition, the Telecom Agency has drawn up an application aid to support applicants with their application. There is also a publication with more information about the conditional auction.
If, after assessing the applications, it appears that there are several complete applications for the same FM license, an auction can take place. An auction takes place via the internet, using an electronic auction system. If, after the applications have been assessed, only one candidate remains for a permit, this permit will be granted to the candidate at grant costs. If this candidate is not the current license holder, the current license holder can invoke a resolutive condition to undo the withdrawal of his licences.
