Cause the man from Mars won’t eat up bars when the TV’s on (Blondie – ‘Rapture’)Rapture TV has announced it is to appeal the ruling of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) of 31 March 2008 which roundly dismissed its appeal against an Ofcom decision relating to electronic programme guide (EPG) services. In March 2007, Ofcom [...]
Folks, we have been saying for years that mobile termination rates are the single biggest UK rip-off. We’ve said it before (here) – Ofcom should do more.
Anyway, this little video sums up what’s at stake:
High petrol prices? Groceries more expensive? At least those costs aren’t based on pure fiction…
Ofcom just released this news:
Martin Donnelly, Director General Europe and Globalisation at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is to join Ofcom on secondment as Senior Partner responsible for Ofcom’s international work and its activities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Donnelly replaces Ian Hargreaves, who is joining the Foreign Office as Director of Strategic Communications.
Donnelly’s responsibilities [...]
UPDATE: Roger Darlington covers the progress of this important issue here. The primary legal difference between the U.S. and the U.K. in this regard is the availability of class action relief in the U.S. While class action lawsuits are often abused, they certainly put a stop to this type of improper commercial activity.
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Living in the [...]
UPDATE: Nigel Griffiths failed. Ed Vaizey made some very sensible comments — here.
On Friday the Nigel Griffiths legislation on Junk Food advertising: the Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill will get its second reading in Parliament. Based on my discussions with people that know U.K. politics, the bill is unlikely to go anywhere. [...]
Ofcom appear before Parliament tomorrow from 10:30 – 13:00. Ed Richards (CEO) and David Currie (Chair) will appear before the Culture Media and Sport Committee and the Business and Entreprise Committee, sitting in a joint oversight session.
The webcast should be here.
Last year I attended and I thought the proceedings — while overall good — [...]
Hey people, here’s what shakin’ this week:
– On Tuesday the 22nd at 10:30 am, Ofcom CEO Ed Richards and Chair Lord David Currie appear before Parliament’s two select committees with oversight responsibility in its sectors (T&I, CMS). You can probably watch it streamed live here.
I predict a riot.
– Nick Reynolds has a series [...]
Broadband stories like this one are now becoming as common as NHS horror stories:
Ofcom CEO Ed Richards has been making good statements about this lately, but these problems having been going on now for almost three years.
Time for action…
I wrote last week that I thought Ofcom’s willingness to pay research in its PSB Review was questionable. After looking into this matter further, my opinion is even stronger. Here is why I think Ofcom’s research was below standard:
– It strongly appears that — instead of deliberative research — Ofcom attempted to guide [...]
The most cogent insights in the history of regulatory theory came from the Chicago School. In particular Nobel winner George Stigler famously observed that firms often acquire policy or regulation so as to serve their interest, not the public interest.
Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) review looks like it could be headed directly down this [...]
One thing I initially overlooked in Ofcom’s PSB review was the excellent interactive summary.
It’s something that I think is a very clever tool for public engagement and Ofcom should be congratulated on trying it out. While Ofcom has since its inception allowed the submission of electronic comments or comments using its online response forms, [...]
It strikes me after my first read-through the PSB Review consultation that the key issue is money. (I suppose the key issue in any policy debate is money). Ofcom’s proposals in many respects assume people will pay more for what is regarded as higher PSB quality.
But is that true?
Ofcom say (section 3.44): [...]
Ofcom launched phase one of its second public service broadcasting review today. It’s pretty big news.
Here are the key nuggets:
– Ofcom consultation document (the big one) is here. (warning: 151-pages)
– Responses are due June 19th, or juneteenth as we say where I am from. Respond online here.
– Ofcom have established a PSB Review [...]
I call this one ‘Functional Separation’ –
I call this one, ‘Convergence Swing Thing’ –
file
The Ofcom press release:
04|04|08
Uk’s largest spectrum auction confirmed
Ofcom today confirmed plans for the UK’s single-largest release of radio spectrum to date, suitable for a range of new services such as mobile broadband and advanced wireless services delivered using WiMAX and 3G technology.
Ofcom will release the spectrum in the 2010-2025 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz bands (known [...]
(Link to Ofcom announcement here)
Ofcom today released its plans for its mini-me DDR. Here are some of the nuggets and key points, along with my reactions:
‘The changes mean that viewers using new receiving equipment should be able to receive up to four new high-definition channels as digital switchover is completed in the UK in [...]
Is it just me, or did anyone else find Ofcom’s latest research on social networking a bit odd?
What was the antecedent?
Internet content is not really part of Ofcom’s remit so anytime the regulator delves into things like social networking, we have to wonder why. What are the justifications? What was the cost? [...]
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