February 12th 2004
By: Luke
Ofcom Appoints Consumer Panel
Ofcom has appointed the members who will make up the independent consumer panel. The panel is also set to have its own website - www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk
Ofcom sees the panel as a 'critical friend' on consumer issues.
Those appointed - in addition to Collette Bowe - are (Ofcom's blurb not ...
February 12th 2004
By: Russ
Ofcom Seeks 'Control'...
Ofcom have announced a consultation on the meaning of the word 'control' for purposes of its regulations, mostly geared toward ensuring compliance with its media ownership rules.
I briefly compared the proposed regulations with the FCC's regulations and policies. They both are very flexible, permitting the regulator to ...
February 11th 2004
By: Luke
The 'Convergence' Letter!
February 11, 2004
Mr. Michael D. Eisner
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Dear Michael:
I am writing following our conversation earlier this week in which I proposed that we enter into discussions to merge Disney and Comcast to create a premier entertainment and communications company. ...
February 11th 2004
By: Russ
Mouse-hunting season opens today...
Comcast stunned everyone this morning by offering to acquire Disney in a hostile transaction. This, of course, would create the world's largest media company by some margin, more than half again bigger than Time Warner.
Comcast is not well-known outside the U.S. It is primarily ...
February 11th 2004
By: Russ
The more things change, the more they stay the same...
Lord Normanbrook, BBC Chairman, wrote on this date in 1965: It troubles me that so much of the current debate about the BBC is conducted by people who take extreme positions on either side. On the one side are those ...
February 11th 2004
By: Luke
MPs Target BT...as usual
Guardian states:
MPs have called on Ofcom to loosen the stranglehold that BT has on broadband as Ofcom prepares to launch a full scale review of the industry in the UK.
The Trade and Industry select committee released their latest broadband report this morning.
February 11th 2004
By: Luke
Keeping Up With The Debate...
Has someone been asleep?
Today's Order Paper in the Lord's lists the following topical question -
'The Lord Barnett�To ask Her Majesty�s Government what plans they have concerning the renewal of the BBC�s Charter.'
Ask a broad question, get a broad answer.
February 10th 2004
By: Patrick
Boulder Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Conference - Brief Recap
Readers may recall a few weeks ago that Russ announced a telecommunications conference held Boulder Colorado that included numerous speakers from academia and industry. The Boulder conference was � without a doubt � the most thought-provoking conference that I have attended in ...
February 9th 2004
By: Paul
Ofcom�s work priorities favour broadcasters over consumers and citizens
Ofcom has published its draft annual plan for regulatory work during 2004/2005. A great deal of work has been planned, but two projects are of particular note:
Project D1 To develop a new licensing regime for broadcasters, foster self-regulation and broaden citizen-consumer choice. ...
February 9th 2004
By: Russ
Vodafone news round-up...
Vodafone will be on everyone's RADAR screen this week, as it contemplates selling its 45% stake in the American wireless company, Verizon Wireless, and possibly acquiring AT&T Wireless. Here's the latest round-up:
FT: Vodafone boosts hand for AT&T bid
The Times: Vodafone edges closer to $37bn AT&T ...
