Stephen Carter was just made a peer and at the same time appointed Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (I have also seen it described as ‘Minister of Technology, Telecoms and Broadcasting’).  It looks as if he will work jointly with DBERR and DCMS.  This basically means he will oversee Ofcom’s work.  That’s my take…

I think Stephen Carter is the only person in the history of the UK to go from being the unelected head of a public regulatory organisation to being the unelected head of the relevant ministry that oversees that same public regulatory organisation.

Did you get that?

I wonder what Ofcom CEO Ed Richards makes of this?  He’s probably not very pleased.  It’s one thing having a busy or neglectful minister in the oversight role.  It’s quite another having someone with both time on their hands combined with a strong interest in the institution they helped create.  I would expect Carter to have a say as to who will replace Ofcom Chair David Currie in a few months’ time.  It will be interesting to see if friction develops between Carter and Richards.

Or maybe they will work as a team, strengthening Ofcom’s position?