PARIS � In June 2016, France�s Conseil Sup�rieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) solicited broadcasters that were interested in digital radio covering the zones of Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg. In Lille, the 39 selected radio stations received their authorizations on May 24; radio stations must agree to propose a multiplex project to the CSA no later than July 24.
In Lyon and Strasbourg, there are some difficulties in the process of being resolved; if all goes well, the authorizations will be issued after the start of the school year, in order to give the best chances of building up the multiplexes, according to radiodigi.fr.
The next digital radio solicitation, for Nantes and Rouen, will be announced before the summer, after the publication of impact studies and public consultation. The call for Toulouse is postponed until the end of the year. Due to recent work on the contours of the local allotments and on the coverage plan of the extended allotment, the Toulouse area will be treated at the same time as Bordeaux, according to the same article.
The CSA�s plan would ideally have the 30 largest cities in France covered by the end of 2020. National networks could also be launched 2018, so long as they attract the interest of at least some major national or general radio stations and public radio stations as well.
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