Broadcasting

The public broadcasting service is operated by the Communications Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network on behalf of the Velocity Interoperability Network. It is the channel through which the Network and its departments make official announcements to members and the public, and it is available throughout the Network without charge.

The service is carried on the six Class D channels in Band VI, whose frequencies are given under Spectrum Allocations. Its daily schedule, and the deadlines for submitting material to each programme, are set out in the broadcast schedule.

What the service carries. The service carries the following, in the order of precedence shown.

Emergency notices

Service interruptions and instructions to members and the public, carried at the time of issue on every channel of the service.

Official announcements

Announcements of the Network and its departments, carried in full and without alteration in the announcement windows of the schedule.

Notices of change

Changes to Network standards, allocations and procedures, carried before they take effect.

Proceedings and decisions

Proceedings and decisions of Network institutions that are required to be published.

Daily bulletin

A summary of the press releases issued by the departments of the Network each day.

Rules for official announcements. The following rules apply to every announcement carried by the service.

• Emergency notices take precedence over all other programming and are carried at the time of issue on every channel of the service.
• Official announcements are carried in the announcement windows of the schedule. An announcement issued outside a window is carried at the time of issue on channel D1 and repeated in the next window.
• Announcements are carried on the Class D channels reserved for the service and on the Department's website.
• The text of every announcement is retained by the Department and may be inspected on request.
• Members may relay the service on their own channels but may not edit, abridge or delay it.

Issuing an announcement. The steps below apply to every department and institution of the Network wishing to have an announcement carried.

1. 1

   Step 1: Prepare the text

   Write the announcement in full as it is to be carried. State the issuing office and the date of issue at the head of the text. The Department carries announcements exactly as received and does not edit them.

2. 2

   Step 2: Send it from the issuing office

   Send the text to the Department by email from the official address of the issuing office. Announcements from other addresses are not carried until the issuing office confirms them.

3. 3

   Step 3: Confirmation

   The Department confirms receipt and states the window in which the announcement will be carried. Announcements received two hours before a window are carried in that window; later announcements are carried at the time of issue on channel D1 and repeated in the next window.

4. 4

   Step 4: Carriage

   The announcement is carried on channel D1 and published on this site. Emergency notices are carried on channel D2 at the time of issue and take precedence on every channel of the service.

5. 5

   Step 5: Record

   The text of every announcement carried is retained by the Department with the date and time of carriage, and may be inspected on request. An announcement containing an error is corrected by a further announcement from the same office; the original remains on the record.

Departments wishing to issue an announcement through the service should write to contact@communications.gov.vin. The channels on which the service is carried are allocated under Spectrum. Interference with any channel of the service is treated as Category 1 under the procedure set out under Interference.