Lifeboats fear hike in radio fees

Radio use on board the lifeboats is free of charge

Lifeboat crews fear the RNLI could be hit by a 600% increase in fees it has to pay to use VHF radio frequencies.

They say changes to the broadcasting spectrum from April could mean the RNLI has to pay as much as £260,000 for a UK licence that is now less than £40,000.

"Our fundraisers will have to try even harder if these changes do take place," said Ian Dunkley, RNLI station manager at Gravesend in Kent.

Regulator Ofcom said it was seeking views on how much charities should pay.

Mr Dunkley said the radios in question are those used at lifeboat stations to communicate with boats.

'Absolutely vital'

They are also used on the vehicles which launch lifeboats and for the paging system used to call out crews in an emergency.

"They are an absolutely vital part of our equipment - we can't work without them," he said.

The RNLI currently pays a 50% discounted fee of £38,000-a-year for its VHF licence.

The new proposed fee would be £260,000.

Ofcom has suggested charities might receive a 50% discount, bringing the new fee to £130,000.

The consultation period finishes on 30 October.

"We are taking this very seriously," said Mr Dunkley. "We really need to stress to Ofcom how important it is that we should be considered a special case.

"We are encouraging people to contact Ofcom and make it known if they feel the same as we do."

Ofcom said in a statement: "Spectrum users, from taxi firms...to ambulances...to the MoD, pay to access the airwaves.

"Our proposals would bring the maritime and aeronautical spectrum users into line with these other users.

"As part of this process, we are asking whether charities, such as the RNLI, should receive a discount and what the level of that discount should be."