Community radio stations are small, non-profit stations that serve a local geographical area. While pirate radio stations in the 1960s were precursors, community radio did not become a licensed service in the UK until 2002, when a trial of 15 stations was conducted. The trial was a success and led regulatory body Ofcom to formally create a "Community Radio" license category, launching the licensed community radio sector that continues today with over 100 stations licensed by Ofcom to serve local communities.

1. “The definition of a Community Radio is a small scale stations that operates non-profit or non-
government organisation that appeals to certain geographical locations.
This practise actually began in the `60s with pirate radio, also known as access radio, but it didn’t
become a licensed service until 2002.
Uh, the Radio Authority ran a trail period on 15 separate stations for a single year. The idea was
successful and the licenses were extended through to 2003, and eventually Ofcom created the idea
of a ‘Community Radio’, which launched the year after.
Around 107 radio licenses are issued by Ofcom each turn, and in March 2007, Oldham Community
Radio was picked as one of the campaigns to receive a licence, and it’s been going strong ever
since.”
(Woo!)