Editing Independent Local Radio (section)

===INR, RSLs, SALLIES and IRR===
This led to the awarding of three national contracts, known as [[Independent National Radio]] to [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]], Virgin 1215 (later [[Virgin Radio]] and then rebranded [[Absolute Radio]]) and Talk Radio (later [[Talksport]]).

The Radio Authority also began to license [[Restricted Service Licence]] (RSL) stations – low-power temporary radio stations for special events, operating for up to 28 days a year – and to reduce the criteria for a "viable service area" with the introduction of Small Scale Local Licences (SALLIES) for villages, special interest groups and small communities.<ref name="rlg2003">Woodyear, Clive (Ed.) ''Radio Listener's Guide 2003, The'' Clive Woodyear Publishing 2002</ref>

By this time the [[medium wave]] band had become unpopular with radio groups and the majority of new stations were awarded an FM licence only, even when an AM licence was jointly available.

In 1994 the Radio Authority introduced regional stations (Independent Regional Radio, again usually grouped under the banner "ILR" by most commentators) and began to license the commercial [[Digital Audio Broadcasting]] (DAB) multiplexes in October 1998.<ref name="wa2006" />

The Radio Authority was replaced by the Office of Communications ([[Ofcom]]) in 2004, which also replaced the ITC, the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Radio Communications Agency and the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). Ofcom has stated that they plan to continue the development of Independent Local Radio, with an emphasis on digital broadcasting, and to "ensure the character" of local stations, following the mergers and loss of local identities that followed the 1990 Act.<ref name="wa2006" />