Folks, one thing is for sure — regulators and policy makers / shapers sometimes get so caught up in their substantive mission they forget they work to serve the public. Some more than others. But let’s take a quick look at three:

1. The Byron Review. Dr. Tanya Byron, from what people tell me, is selectively releasing information relevant to her review to friends and industry insiders, but excluding the wider public. That’s how policy making was conducted 50 years ago. What is her research design, what are her methods, what financial and other controls are present? We have no idea. I sent Dr. Byron an email on 18 January, asking if she would at least release her consultation responses to the public. No response.

Dr. Byron forgets she works for the UK taxpayer. We’ll remind her…

2. The Convergence Think Tank. Unlike the Byron review - the CTT appears more open, sharing information, publishing position papers and holding open meetings. Good for them. This is probably the result of Robin Foster’s leadership. Despite my overall belief that independent reviews that are outside established regulatory structures often depart from the principles of ‘better regulation’ the CTT so far have done well.

3. Ofcom. Ofcom have been slipping badly lately in terms of transparency. For example, I recently asked whether Ofcom would publicly release its already-submitted response to the Byron review. Seems pretty obvious they would, right? It’s a public debate and it’s Ofcom’s response to another policy making body. (As far as precedent goes, Ofcom similarly published its consultation response during the BBC charter review process.)

But I was told no. Unlike the IWF and a number of other public bodies, Ofcom have decided to keep its submission confidential until the Byron review concludes in April 2008. Why? I was told it would ‘prejudice wider debate’. This is from Ofcom’s letter to me:

That’s bureaucratic nonsense. I’m still waiting on Ofcom to explain that one.

And those portions of Ofcom’s website related to accountability and engagement with Parliament and other public bodies are badly out of date — they haven’t been updated for over a year. Want to have a laugh? Ofcom’s webpage devoted to engagement with Parliament has only one document, and it dates back to 2003.

No wonder MPs say that Ofcom’s communications skills are poor. They are just getting the same treatment the public gets.