May 31st 2005
By: EuroTelcoBlog
ECTA has today published a position paper (beware, it's very short), insinuating that incumbent telcos might use Next Generation Networks as a cynical tool to circumvent regulation and stifle competition. Tisk, tisk. When have we ever seen a regulator ringfence new technology and ignore issues of significant market ...
May 31st 2005
By: Russ
OfcomWatch friend, Yves Blondeel of T-REGS, posted an excellent summary and analysis of the latest developments in the EU's consideration of Europe's regulatory framework for electronic communications.
The best nugget from T-REGS report:
Kai-Uwe Ricke, Executive Chairman of Deutsche Telekom, stressed that, in his opinion, 'the main problem is not the current ...
May 28th 2005
By: Russ
The Better Regulation Executive website is here. The government is still accepting applications to fill the post until 31 May 2005.
As we've reported in the past, there is a new breeze blowing throughout the UK regulatory sector... emphasising deregulation / light-touch regulation / cost-benefit analysis, etc. All of ...
May 27th 2005
By: Russ
* I'm going to stop banging-on about the Ofcom R18 ban (eventually), but I thought I would share a few more thoughts about the decision:
1. The reaction to the R18 ban (or lack of reaction) says alot about the British system of content regulation. The decision--from an economic standpoint--is a ...
May 27th 2005
By: Nicholas Francis
I'm following up on Russ's post yesterday in which he takes issue with the comment in Robin Foster's speech that "As any broadcasting economist will tell you, [advertising] also creates a very imperfect market". Since I sometimes admit to being an economist I've given a little thought ...
May 26th 2005
By: Russ
[Update: An alert reader just pointed out that my reference to the 'recent speech by Richard Hooper' was incorrect - the speech was made by Ofcom's Robin Foster. My bad. So, in true Orweillian fashion, I've amended the post. We've always been at war with Oceania.]
Ofcom ...
May 26th 2005
By: Russ
Perhaps it was a little over-shadowed by the release of Ofcom's Broadcast Code this week, but I wanted to call attention to the Treasury's Better Regulation Action Plan ~ an initiative that can best be described as a pro-business / pro-growth and de-regulatory agenda for the regulatory sector.
So, folks, in ...
May 26th 2005
By: Camilla
It seems these days that fast food complaints are frequently finding themselves on Ofcom�s menu. So, it�s hardly surprising that Jamie Oliver has been the subject of a number of complaints with his show Jamie�s School Dinners. The 9pm, Channel 4, show attempted to change the eating habits of children ...
May 26th 2005
By: EuroTelcoBlog
I always appreciate a bit of exposure, but I have to say that I have some big problems with this post at Business Week, citing me as an apparent vindication for a view that telecom is poised for some sort of reinvention, in a positive sense. Firstly, I disagree strongly ...
May 26th 2005
By: Luke
Guardian reports (from the WMF)...
"The veteran television regulator, Sarah Thane, has joined the BBC's growing band of consultants advising the board of governors.
Three months after she quit the media watchdog Ofcom, Ms Thane will focus her efforts on advising the BBC governance unit led by Sir Nicholas Kroll.
Ms Thane left ...
