AMPS NEWS

RADIO MICROPHONES

Good News Just Around The Corner

In October, AMPS Council members Sandy MacRae and Patrick Heigham were invited by Paul Gill of Joint Radio Frequency Management Ltd (JFMG) to meet with him and discuss Spectrum Pricing Stage 3, and how it affects Freelance Programme Makers using radio mics.

Good progress has been made by their lobbying of JFMG and the previous frequency managers ASP. We now have a sympathetic ally in Paul Gill.

Things are changing for the better say Sandy and Patrick. New pricing and the easing of some regulations are shortly to be announced.

The bad news is that the cell phone bogey still looms large. The UHF frequencies, currently allocated for our use, make the rich cell phone companies drool, and the Radio Communications Agency twitch at the thought of the revenue to be had by selling them.

The only way JFMG can hope to prevent these frequencies being sold is to present substantial figures for licences issued, proving a necessary use. If the numbers are low then, for sure, the cell phone bogey will win.

When the new, more reasonable licence pricing is announced, the Council urges all radio mic owners to take out licences and so prove that the frequencies are used and are essential to film and TV production.

A full report of Sandy and Patrick’s meeting with Paul Gill will be published in the next newsletter.

Meanwhile make it your New Year Resolution to get legal.

AMPS INTERNET MEETING

The ‘Developments In Internet Technique’ meeting held at De Lane Lea Studios on November 22nd last, was a great success. The 27 members present came away well informed by Sarah Harries of Framfab UK of present and future development of the World Wide Web.

A full report of the meeting will be published in the next issue of the newsletter. Meanwhile, those who were unable to attend may, if they wish, apply to Bob Allen (phone/fax: 01284 850332) for an audio cassette of the lecture and discussion along with a hard copy of the illustrations used by Sarah during the meeting.

THE SUSTAINING MEMBERS

SHOW 2001

Arrangements are already well in hand for the 2001 Sustaining Members Show. It’s hoped that by holding the AGM slightly earlier in the year, even more of our Sustaining Members will find time ahead of their busy show schedules to attend our show.

With a good spread of buffet lunch and the Pinewood Green Room bar open, this year’s show was a great success, enjoyed by both members and exhibiting Sustaining Members.

As before, next year, the AGM business will be kept to a minimum but of course if any members have matters they wish to discuss, then time will be found to do so.

Pinewood Studios have again agreed to provide the venue. The AGM will be in the Green Room with the ‘exhibition’ in the Gatsby Suite, which will give more space for the exhibitors.

There will be the usual tea, coffee and biscuits to accompany the friendly get together chat before the meeting starts. The free buffet lunch is to be available again. Soft drinks will be provided but the stronger stuff from the Green Room bar requires cash from the pocket to procure.

The Council hopes that members will turn out for the AGM and especially for the show. If getting out of a cozy warm sack on Sunday alter a particularly strenuous 80 hour week is just too much, then come late for the free grub and support the Sustaining Members Show.

Notice of which Sustaining Members intend exhibiting, and what they hope to entice us to see and discuss, will be sent out with the AGM Meeting Notice just prior to the New Year

REMINDER - Don’t forget to fill out your ballot paper for the Council Elections

A PLEA FROM THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY:

Those members who have been sent a fresh Standing Order form to sign and return, and have not yet done so, are earnestly requested to comply as soon as possible.

AMPS has changed its Bank and we need to have your subscriptions for 2001 properly credited to the new account.

Please return the form in the envelope which was enclosed, or to the AMPS office.