Five + 4 = Nein
So writes Jamie Doward in today’s Observer, concerning the possible merger of publicly-owned C4 with commercially-oriented Five. There’s an interesting quote about Ofcom’s role in evaluating any proposed merger:
‘This is new territory,’ said Edward Pitt, competition partner at Addleshaw Goddard. ‘Ofcom [the communications watchdog] has to look at a range [...]
Ofcom Watch recommends…
Well, at least I recommend — The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature, by Steven Pinker. I’m reading it now. Great book.
When we write about policy and regulatory matters, often the underlying question remains unanswered or unexplored: Precisely what are our capabilities as humans? This [...]
Welsh Advisory Committee Announced
Ofcom today announced the members of its Advisory Committee for Wales.
The Members of the Advisory Committee for Wales are as follows (Ofcom’s blurb not mine):
Nick Bennett, 34, from Anglesey now runs his own economic development and political consultancy in Cardiff. Between 1996 and 1999 he was regional policy adviser at the [...]
Free Speech and Airwaves: Quo Vadis?
In an earlier post I mentioned the bizarre controversy over Janet Jackson�s Superbowl performance. My theory then � and is still now � that we should not be upset with FCC because is doing because they are doing it at the behest of Congress. Now I fear that [...]
What Is In a Number?
I am also very interested in numbering and VoIP�s impact on it (but know very little about it). My understanding is that the FCC has generally decided not to regulate VoIP and will allow numbering schemes to (at least theoretically) develop by the market. The jury is still out on [...]
Ofcom’s got your (VoIP) number…
It’s almost March already, spring is just around the corner, and everyone’s surely thinking ‘Gee, what telephone number I am gonna use for these new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies?’. I know I am. Ofcom to the rescue! Yesterday, Ofcom announced a consultation on numbering issues for [...]
Edmonds Appointed To The Legal Services Commission
David Edmonds, former Oftel DG and Ofcom non-executive board member has been appointed to the Legal Services Commission.
He will Chair the Regional Legal Services Committee for London.
Consumer Inertia?
Daily Telegraph reports:
British Telecom remains the directory inquiry service of choice six months after the launch of the 118 services, research from Ofcom shows.
It handles almost 60pc of inquiries, based on three sample days, and accounts for 40pc of inquiries to all networks.
The Tories go above and beyond…
Everyone’s probably reading the Elstein piece today – Beyond the Charter.
My initial (over)reaction after reading it through: How painfully obvious is it that the BBC’s current structure, funding and remit are badly broken and in need of serious and immediate revision?
My more considered reaction is that this [...]
Spectrum Management Down Under
A few weeks ago I had the good fortune to meet many of the good people at the International Telecommunications Union while researching for my dissertation. One of the greatest pleasures was a long conversation that I had with Mr. Fabio Leite, ITU-R, who has written a comprehensive report on the [...]
Ofcom Provides Update on Spectrum Trading Consultation
Ofcom responded to Ofcom Watch’s recent inquiry concerning the status of the Ofcom/RA Joint Consultation on Spectrum Trading. Here’s what we heard from Matt Peacock, Ofcom’s Director of Communications:
* Ofcom ‘had quite a few’ comments submitted in response to the consultation. The comments will be posted [...]
DTV : 50% Takeup
Ofcom today published its first Digital Television Update report which covers the fourth quarter of 2003. The report estimates that by the end of December 2003, digital TV penetration had reached more than 50% of all UK households for the first time. In addition, Freeview uptake had increased by 41% [...]
Looking To The Future From The Beginning
The internet is not in Ofcom�s remit.
So it was interesting to see the regulator highlight in its recently published proposed Annual Plan increased consumer concern about internet content as being a key regulatory challenge for 2004/5.
The reality is dawning. A regulator with no oversight of the [...]
Content Is King For The Broadband Stakeholder Group
I agree with Russ – a healthy broadband infrastructure is an enabling feature and not a means with an end. And citizen-consumers will only subscribe if services become more useful. On a regulatory meeting of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG is governments key advisory group on broadband) last [...]
David Currie’s Speech to the CMA
Ofcom has released the text of David Currie’s speech to the Communications Management Association.
The speech, which is quite good in terms of details for policy-watchers, is something of a justification for Ofcom’s list of priorities in the areas of the PSB Review, spectrum trading, etc. I found Currie’s discussion [...]
Officer, you should be chasing murderers, not writing me a ticket!
There has been lots of hullabaloo recently in the United States over the Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake Super bowl controversy, where the two stars showed that their view of open access meant something very different than what regulators mean (or should mean) when they [...]
Your BBC, Your Say – Young People’s Version…
You’ve got to credit the DCMS for trying, but their lame effort to hip-up the Charter Review reminds me of last week’s best Onion article.
Ofcom Watch Follows-Up on Ofcom’s Spectrum Trading Consultation
Ofcom�s public comment period for its spectrum trading consultation closed on February 13, 2004. Today, Ofcom Watch followed-up with Ofcom to learn when and how the public will be able to view the submitted comments, or at least obtain a list of those entities that submitted comments. [...]
The Broadcasting Standards Review Process Is Clarified
I visited Ofcom’s new headquarters at Riverside house in London last Friday to find out a little more about their plans and priorities. Robin Foster and Ed Richards from Ofcom’s Strategy and Market developments policy group gave a presentation to various representatives and members of the public explaining [...]
LogicaCMG To Develop Ofcom’s ‘Converged’ Desktop Platform
LogicaCMG has announced a two-year contract with Ofcom for a managed information systems service. Under the �23 million agreement (can this figure be right?) the company will develop a new desktop platform for Ofcom that integrates the resources of the five previous regulators.
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