Ofcom released the details of the BT settlement. They are here.
Folks, here are the key takeaways / open issues as I see them from a legal perspective:
* This is essentially a consultation on whether BT has promised enough (’undertakings’ – spelled out in Section 2 of the document) to avoid referral of this matter to [...]
And, as someone pointed out to me yesterday, it hardly gives confidence that the regulator will act in an independent manner…
Our friends at Reckon wonder if this counts as e-government!
Try your hand here. Meanwhile, the copyright extension issue seems to have disappeared off the radar screen here in the U.K.
Send your war stories to: blog@ofcomwatch.co.uk
The DTI published today a consultation proposing to raise the maximum penalty for misuse of Premium Rate Services (PRS) from �100,000 to �250,000.
This consultation is further to Ofcom�s December 2004 review of The Regulation of Premium Rate Services in which Recommendation 6 stated (with regards to the code of practice of the PRS regulator ICSTIS) [...]
I’m posting details for a forthcoming event about the process of media policy making which will be taking place at Goldsmiths College, London on September 23rd 2005. If you are interested in attending, please email me to register.
MEDIA POLICY-MAKING AND POWER: A SYMPOSIUM
Organised by the Unit for Journalism Research, Goldsmiths College and the Economic and [...]
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website is operational – click here. Well, ‘operational’ might be a charitable term…
I heard an interesting story today. Apparently the Sydney and Canberra ABA/ACA offices got together about a month ago and–in a ‘team building’ exercise–each baked a different cake.
Maybe they should have worked on the website instead?
Comments [...]
I look forward to reading the weekly updates from the ASA in the UK. This week’s named and shamed telco is BT, which is pinned down by a savvy consumer who clocked that a 1GB data cap and unlimited free VoIP calls don’t coexist easily. The adjudicators agreed.
~ James Enck
BT has committed to the Microsoft software platform, according to this press release.
This dovetails nicely with Ofcom’s decision to slash ITV’s license fee.
Ofcom claimed this morning to have published the conclusion to its Spectrum Framework Review but I cannot locate it on the regulator’s website…
Bueller? … Bueller?
Update: The statement was just released and is available here.
The upshot? This is a very general statement setting forth a market-based approach to regulation of radio spectrum. The [...]
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=25941
Sub-committee says selection process for National Broadcasting Commission did not follow legal requirements
Bangkok PostWednesday, June 22, 2005
By Mongkol Bangprapa
A senate sub-committee has found the selection process for broadcasting regulators to be at fault, some of the 14 shortlisted candidates unqualified and the credibility of the selection panel itself to be in doubt, a high-level Senate [...]
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=26105
Two papers agree to cooperate to create network between journalists
The Straits Times
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Beijing — The Straits Times and the China Daily have signed an agreement on staff exchanges to step up cooperation between the two newspapers.
The move would allow journalists and management staff from both sides to get to know each other better, [...]
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=26106
Academic conference focuses on media freedom and the burying of news unfavorable to the government
Bangkok PostSaturday, June 25, 2005
By Mongkol Bangprapa
The country has entered an era of commercial politics when media is “blinded, deafened and gagged” by the government’s ability to dictate the news agenda, according to an academic conference.
The conference entitled “Deaf, Blind, Mute: [...]
I keep attending media and communications policy gatherings at which the introductory speaker reminds everyone of the implication of �Chatham House Rules�. I offer the following observations about the Chatham House Rules:
* At these gatherings, everyone nods their head as if we all know what the rules are. I�m guilty of this. [...]
Today’s FT has the following analysis of the BT settlement:
Ofcom’s strategic review is an intellectual landmark. BT will ring-fence its local loop into a new access services division. All service providers (including BT’s) will buy access on equal terms, at prices which permit AS only a fair return. Yet, in practice, it looks like BT [...]
A selection of reactions here.
Aussie communications minister Helen Coonan thinks Ofcom’s settlement with BT can be replicated with Telstra.
Meanwhile, ACMA (Ofcom’s little brother) is taking shape. Still no leader.
A view from a member of the Ofcom Consumer Panel member here.
Disruption in the UK market got a leg up today, as OFCOM unveiled the preliminary conclusions to phase 2 of its strategic market review. Most of the key elements are along the lines of what BT itself proposed back in February, though a few elements of the fine print lead me to think that this [...]
I think what happened today with Ofcom’s announcement of its settlement with BT over access to BT’s network exposes some weaknesses in the EU / UK regulatory framework for telecoms. It seems that Ofcom’s ex ante telecoms regulatory powers are quite weak and that the regulator essentially had to use its Enterprise Act referral powers [...]
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