Ofcom To Look Into BT Local Loop Dominance
Ofcom is to investigate BT’s dominance of telephone connections between homes and local exchanges, The Times reports.
The paper on Tuesday said the inquiry would take place early next year ahead of a review of the whole British telecoms market.
Happy Birthday Ofcom
Two quotes for Ofcom on its birthday:
From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye….
~ WB Yeats
Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover…
~ Homer Simpson
The ‘new’ 5.8 GHz frequency band…
The DTI recently announced the availability, starting on February 2, 2004, of the 5.8 GHz frequency band in the U.K. Huh?
This same 5.8 GHz frequency band (well, roughly the same) was made available in the U.S., on a license-free basis, seven years ago. Even under its own timetable, [...]
Ofcom Is Go!
Ofcom has now assumed its duties. It is finally the UKs media and communications regulator.
EU Candidate Countries: Telecom Markets – Final Report
IBM Business Consulting Services (formerly PwC Consulting) was commissioned by the Directorate General Information Society of the European Commission to prepare four reports tracking the development of the telecommunications services markets in the EU candidate countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, [...]
Lightweight today, heavyweight tomorrow?
If the regulators are concerned about low budgets for ‘lightweight’ news/factual programming at ITV, then maybe the answer is an owner with deeper pockets?
And speaking of lightweight news/factual programming.
Thoughts on Transparency…
On December 21, The Legal Theory Blog (highly recommended, by the way) addressed the issue of transparency, which is something we here at Ofcom Watch tend to promote in UK media and communications policy. I must say, Lawrence Solum covered this area in a more balanced fashion than I did. He [...]
So Sayeth the Church Elders…
Today’s Media Guardian has several good pieces on Ofcom, PSBs, and overall UK media and communications policy by: Lucy Rouse (interviewing Lord McIntosh), David Puttnam, and Damian Tambini. All are worth reading, as they touch on the issues we have struggled with over the past year, and look forward to [...]
PSBs Fail To Bring Seasonal Cheer To UK Film Industry
A study by the UK Film Council analysed 156 films to be broadcast on the five terrestrial PSB channels between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, and found that UK films made in the last eight years comprised 5.13% of the total.
The Council say the figures [...]
The DCMS: An Impressive Transparency and Accountability Commitment
Follow-up to my post of December 11th (Your BBC, Your Say):
I’m in London right now, but the DCMS actually rang me back on my Virginia (USA) telephone number, indicating that my American views on the BBC Charter were welcome, and provided some follow-up advice on how to electronically [...]
Termination Charge Review
Ofcom will today publish its review of the call termination market it has carried out under new EU competition rules.
It will be key reading for mobile operators. However, Ofcom is unlikely to move beyond the position previously established by Oftel – the regulator ruled that the price to call a mobile from a [...]
Oftel Publish Final Annual Report
Oftel today published its final annual report prior to Ofcom taking up its powers on 29 December.
Producer Guidelines Unveiled
Ofcom today published guidance that broadcasters will need to comply with when they commission programmes from independent producers. It follows a recommendation by the ITC of the draft codes already prepared by the broadcasters.
Ofcom Launch New Site
Check it out.
I think – on first glance – that the site looks really good.
And the new slogan – ’serving citizen-consumers in the digital age’ – is both apt and brave.
Looking Ahead…
The Telegraph kick off the ‘look-aheads’ for the media/comms industry in 2004. They say:
‘The BBC and its rivals are facing new pressures, Fleet Street is changing editors again and there is a new super-regulator about to flex its muscles.’
It’s hardly insightful. And no mention of the potentially turbulent year ahead for the Telegraph itself. [...]
Ofcom Challenged Over Costs…Again
Ofcom continue to get a rough ride in the press today after yesterday’s going over in the FT Creative Business.
The Guardian reports:
‘Ofcom…is facing the prospect of a New Year row with its licensees after admitting yesterday its operating costs will be 27% higher than the five watchdogs it is replacing.’
Ofcom will be [...]
Where’s My Christmas Card?
Please note Ofcomwatch will not be sending out Christmas cards this year.
Instead we will be donating – in the New Year – the cost equivalent to Ofcom’s nominated local charity St Mungo’s.
Ofcom Open Day
Ofcom met with the media today. And for those who didn’t get an invite – like us – they’ve done a handy Powerpoint.
Hello, It’s Stephen Carter Calling…
The FT’s ‘Creative Business’ today features the two page interview with Stephen Carter.
Only days away from the official vesting day of Ofcom Carter speaks frankly. He insists that Ofcom can evenhandedly deal with all its duties. Yet, more than once he mentions that the work of Ofcom will not be [...]
Joint Decision on Broadband Access Market: BT = SMP
The outgoing UK telecommunications regulator Oftel and the incoming converged communications regulator Ofcom today agreed on a joint draft decision on the regulation of the UK�s wholesale broadband access market.
The decision follows the publication earlier this year of a consultation document setting out the terms of a [...]
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