Ofcom’s Ben Willis, among others, will speak at the FCC’s ‘Global’ roundtable discussion on IP-based services on Friday July 30th. You can watch this event live (or checkout an archived version after-the-fact) by clicking here.
Last week ‘Community Radio’ was officially recognised in law (via secondary legislation). Whilst this is undoubtedly a good thing – I’m one of those old romantics who actually still believes in ‘media pluralism’ – there will still be a certain amount of wrangling on the issues of a Community Media Fund, and more importantly its [...]
As the Guardian (amongst others) has pointed out, the 2010 timetable for digital switch-over could be compromised by the BBC’s more ‘realistic’ suggestion of 2012. Nevertheless it’s instructive that Tessa Jowell’s statement seemed more concerned with solidifying the idea of an orderly progression, than committing to any revision of the 2010 target. Indeed Version 11 of the [...]
Spectrum Trading Associates (STA), a joint venture has been set up by Peter Ramsdale and Ian Vance. STA provides a one-stop shop for help and information on the exciting new opportunities which are coming through the introduction of trading of the rights to use Radio Spectrum.
The company states,
“As you know, radio based communication [...]
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Ofcom puts disabled in the picture
Guardian reports:
Seventy broadcasters will be forced to offer subtitles and audio description for disabled audiences at a combined cost of �37m a year under new rules being brought in by the media regulator Ofcom.
About 50 channels will be required to provide subtitles for [...]
Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal (U.S. edition) has a lengthy treatment of the subject, identifying the key regulatory players and some recent studies. The particular focus of the article is whether ‘hands-free’ devices are safer than the use of mobile phones without such devices.
One thing’s for sure: Driving whilst eating a Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme is, to [...]
Ofcom today announced new draft rules on the television advertising of alcoholic drinks.
The draft rules were drawn up in response to views expressed by the drinks industry and by consumer groups that existing rules, inherited from the Independent Television Commission, were insufficiently focused with regard to:
Discouraging advertising likely to be strongly attractive to children and [...]
Scotsman.com Business – Technology – Let’s talk about communication
The Scotsman interviewed Stephen Carter whilst he was attending the opening of Ofcom’s Scottish regional office. It’s the usual ‘puff’ piece set up by the press office.
Most interestingly the newspaper says, “Carter is responsible for regulating Britain�s communications, internet and broadcasting industries.” I am sure Carter will [...]
Yesterday Ofcom announced its new draft standards code for public consultation, with a view to its publication in its final form at the end of January 2005. The consultation covers a very wide area of harm, offence, privacy and fairness issues in its 146 pages, but I would like to particularly focus on issues of [...]
The Voice of the Listener and Viewer has posted its submission to Ofcom�s first phase consultation on public service broadcasting on its website.
It�s a strong submission, raising important issues, identifying flaws in Ofcom�s approach and research, and really adds something to the debate. VLV state, �Ofcom, despite it�s attempt to be impartial has willed [...]
We get a lot of stuff sent to us at the Ofcomwatch e-mail address.
Some of it is very useful and interesting (many thanks to Ofcom’s press office), some of it bizarre (again…many thanks to Ofcom’s press office) and some of it a bit weird for our taste (many thanks to the international spamming community). [...]
Ofcom’s Renumbering Plans – Digital-Lifestyles.info
The great online techno-magazine Digital Lifestyles reports:
“Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has published their plan for renumbering Greater London’s telephone system.
Under Section 56 of the Communications Act, Ofcom is required to publish a National Telephone Numbering Plan and review it when required. Telephone numbers have been revised three times over the [...]
We are only hours away from the release of the MediaGuardian’s list of the 100 most influential persons in the UK media!
It’s just like the Oscars, with the exception of… well, it’s not at all like the Oscars, but I suppose it’s still pretty exciting.
In anticipation of this momentous occasion, Luke came-in over [...]
While on holiday, I missed the Wall Street Journal�s recent review of �The Power of Productivity� by William W. Lewis. Lewis claims that competition, particularly competition in the low-tech retailing sector (e.g., Wal-Mart), spurred the dramatic growth in U.S. productivity in the late 1990s. Lewis claims that certain retailing innovations (and competition fostered [...]
Electronics Weekly reports:
Nokia has voiced concern over a consultation currently being run by Ofcom on ensuring competition in a spectrum market. A question in the document suggests the regulator is going back on undertakings, made in a consultation from November last year, that it would take specific steps to protect competition.
In the new consultation Ofcom [...]
No direct mention of Ofcom in Michael Howard’s speech to the Newspaper Conference in London today, however, he did highlight the importance of local media to local people – or as we now say – local ‘citizen-consumers’.
He said,
“�one thing is very clear to me. As the range of news sources becomes ever wider, so the [...]
Ofcom’s complaints and disputes guidelines for telcos, first proposed in February 2004, have been finalised today.
The approach is intended to reduce unnecessary regulatory investigation and allow better targeting of resources at the critical bottlenecks inhibiting fair and effective competition in the communications sector.
The guidelines state that:
Evidence and approval at senior level (CEO or Company Officer) [...]
Ofcom has given itself a slap on the back by publishing a review of its regulation of the telecoms industry since the beginning of the year. Apparently, they’ve done a great job!
It is undeniable that the regulator has worked flat out with reviews and consultations, in addition to launching investigations where it has deemed it [...]
The board of the Food Standards Agency has said it has finalised plans to address the way in which foods are promoted to children.
The FSA said the plan has been developed following the publication of the Hastings Report in September 2003 on the role of advertising of foods to children and the wider public debate [...]
Lord Saatchi has told a cross-section of the industry that a future Tory government could repeal the Communications Act.
In a speech to the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers he said that the Communications Act is �too vague� in the way it defines media regulator Ofcom�s role in the purchase of media properties.
He also said – [...]
Latest from Ofcom