EC Workshop: Are NRA’s Fostering Competition?
On 16/12/2003 the EC will host a workshop on “barriers to competition in electronic networks and services markets”.
Consultants OVUM will present a report that calls for more efforts by NRA’s to foster infrastructure based competition in fixed networks as opposed to service based competition. In doing so, the report criticises [...]
DMGT Reckons On Easy Ride From Ofcom
Telegraph reports the Daily Mail & General Trust is looking to scoop up the blighted Telegraph Group. DMGT believes it would have a “reasonable chance” of gaining approval for a potential deal from the Competition Commission and media regulator Ofcom.
DMGT have no doubt spoken with their lobbyists Lexington Communications [...]
Witherow Gives Radio Forecast
Guardian reports that the outgoing chairman and chief executive of the Radio Authority, David Witherow, forecasts slower consolidation in the UK radio industry than many commentators have predicted.
Speaking at the Voice of the Viewer and Listener conference yesterday, he is reported as saying, “Local ownership rules, and competition law, will apply; so [...]
Ofcom Publishes Accounts
Accounts cover the period 1 July 2002 � 31 March 2003.
The DTI managed expenditure on behalf of Ofcom until the end of December 2002. During this period, consultants contracted to the DTI were responsible for Ofcom project management.
Expenditure on consultants between October 2002 and March 2003 was �4m. The majority of consultancy [...]
Demos Release ‘Long Game’ Regulation Report
Think tank Demos today released a report assessing potential regulatory stategies in the post-privatisation era. The report focuses on the regulation of the energy sector but draws wider conclusions about regulatory strategy.
The report – The Long Game – argues that the key objective for regulators should be the creation of [...]
World Summit On The Information Society
Switzerland will host the first phase of the WSIS in Geneva on 10 to 12 December 2003. The Summit was initiated by the ITU and is held under the high patronage of the UN Secretary-General.
‘The anticipated outcome of the Summit is to develop and foster a clear statement of political [...]
Focus On Brussels – EC Reviews Enforcement Of Framework On Electronic Communications
‘The European Commission has adopted its 9th Report on the implementation by the Member States of the European regulatory framework on electronic communications. The key focus of this year’s Report is the transposition and implementation in the Member States of the new regulatory framework, [...]
Connolly Gets Adjudicator Role
Ofcom and the ITC today announced the appointment of David Connolly as the independent Adjudicator. He will be responsible for ruling on disputes between the advertising community and the merged Carlton and Granada on the operation of the Contracts Rights Renewal remedy.
Ofcom Respond To Ofcomwatch Consultation Enquiry
We recently wrote to Ofcom asking them clarify their consultation process. As currently drafted, it appeared – to us at least – that the process would be less transparent than it was being promoted as being.
In particular, we felt that regulatory decisions would be strengthened if submissions were made [...]
ITC, BSC and Radio Authority Say That Audiences Still Want Regulation
Audiences want television and radio content to be regulated, but they can imagine a future in which a ‘multi-layered’ approach to regulating channels might be possible, according to unsurprisingly favourable research published yesterday by the BSC, ITC and Radio Authority.
The report – ‘Broadcasting Standards Regulation’ [...]
Telcos Voice Concern Over EC Directive to Enforce IP Rights
This week the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO), whose 40 members include BT and Deutsche Telekom, voiced fresh concerns over proposed changes to a draft Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, saying they go too far and risk stifling the development of broadband.
The [...]
Oftel Completes Freeserve Complaint Investigation
Oftel yesterday completed its reassessment of a complaint from Freeserve that BTOpenworld�s consumer broadband pricing policies were anti-competitive.
After completing the reinvestigation, Oftel has confirmed its original decision published on 21 May 2002 that BTOpenworld�s pricing policies at that time did not amount to an anti-competitive margin squeeze by BT.
Freeserve made [...]
UK Broadband Industry Group Launch
Wednesday saw the launch of the UK Broadband Industry Group, a consortium of alternative operators and ISPs pledged to increasing competition in the UK broadband market. The founding members are Brightview, Cable & Wireless, Centrica Telecommunications, Energis, Freeserve and Tiscali. The Group has formed to campaign for greater competition in the [...]
ISPA Announces New ‘Co-Regulatory’ Dispute Resolution Scheme For Consumers
The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has announced the launch of a new alternative dispute resolution scheme for internet consumers.
The Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) was developed by ISPA, in conjunction with T-Mobile, Telewest and Orange. It will be operated by the Chartered Institute [...]
Guardian City Diary Reports:
�Hurrah, it’s almost time for the new super-duper regulator Ofcom to take charge of caring for Britain’s millions of phone users.
So yesterday it was delightful to hear Kip Meek, founder of telecoms consultancy Spectrum Strategy and a member of the Ofcom board, make a principled stand at the launch of new [...]
The Spectrum Trading Bargain Hunt Commences!
Yesterday, otherwise lost in a day of tragic news events, Ofcom announced the formal commencement of its spectrum trading consultation.
The official Ofcom documents may be found here. Ofcom Watch will soon put forth our analysis of the consultation in the near future.
As an initial matter, however, Ofcom [...]
Check this out:
Displacement of Concepts – from the University of East Anglia and Norwich Law School. Today’s post by Lindsay Stirton on video games is particularly interesting.
The video game industry is huge, of course…I keep hearing that it is bigger than the movie industry and for people below a certain age (sadly, I am [...]
A Stronger Role for Ofcom in Promoting Documentaries?…
Does Roger Graef want Ofcom to be a media product manager?
It seems he does. He says in today’s Guardian:
While commissioning editors still invest in good documentary programming, they do not control when they are scheduled and how they are promoted. With notable exceptions, too often these gems [...]
Ofcom Watch’s Technology Corner…
People are always asking me: “Russ, what technology products will most affect the future regulatory environment in which Ofcom and the FCC will operate?”
My usual response: “I have no idea.”
Until now. Check this out — Microsoft is clearly heavily investing in digital media distribution platforms. Microsoft says:
Media Center [...]
Ofcom Balcony Scoop
Hot on the heels of its previous Ofcom-related scoops the Times City Diary today reports:
“The delightful new headquarters of Ofcom, the media regulator, has balconies outside every office and a roof garden with decking and potted plants, none of which the inmates are allowed to use. Even the men who water the plants [...]
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