Agenda
• What is happening at Ofcom
• The future of the NICC
• Ofcom’s technology team
• Questions & Answers
The Communications Act 2003
• Royal Assent July 2003
• 411 sections, plus 19 schedules
• 263 specific duties, compared to 128 under existing regulators’ statutes
• However, some old duties were outside the statutes, eg EU Regulations
Ofcom’s specific dutiesOfcom’s specific duties fall into six areas:
• Ensuring the optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum
• Ensuring that a wide range of electronic communications services - including high speed data services - are available throughout the UK
• Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio services of high quality and wide appeal
• Maintaining plurality in the provision of broadcasting
• Applying adequate protection for audiences against offensive or harmful material
• Applying adequate protection for audiences against unfairness or the infringement of privacy
Ofcom’s Mission
• Balance the promotion of choice and competition with the duty to foster plurality, informed citizenship, protect viewers, listeners and customers and promote cultural diversity.
• Serve the interests of the citizen-consumer as the communications industry enters the digital age.
• Support the need for innovators, creators and investors to flourish within markets driven by full and fair competition between all providers.
• Encourage the evolution of electronic media and communications networks to the greater benefit of all who live in the United Kingdom.
Ofcom exists to further the interests of citizen-consumers through a regulatory regime which, where appropriate, encourages competition.
To do this Ofcom shall:
Ofcom’s Regulatory Principles (1)
• Ofcom will regulate with a clearly articulated and publicly reviewed annual plan, with stated policy objectives.
• Ofcom will intervene where there is a specific statutory duty to work towards a public policy goal which markets alone cannot achieve.
• Ofcom will operate with a bias against intervention, but with a willingness to intervene firmly, promptly and effectively where required.
• Ofcom will strive to ensure its interventions will be evidence-based, proportionate, consistent, accountable and transparent in both deliberation and outcome.
Ofcom’s Regulatory Principles (2)
• Ofcom will always seek the least intrusive regulatory mechanisms to achieve its policy objectives.
• Ofcom will research markets constantly and will aim to remain at the forefront of technological understanding.
• Ofcom will consult widely with all relevant stakeholders and assess the impact of regulatory action before imposing regulation upon a market.
Ofcom and NICC
• Good reputation over 10 years
• Successful model of co-regulation
• Industry has adopted consensus decisions
• Played role in promoting competition, eg– Calling Line ID– Number Portability– Carrier Preselection– LLU and DSL
Ofcom and NICC (2)
• Ofcom pleased to learn about NICC
• Consistent with:– Stated bias against intervention– Seeking least intrusive mechanisms
• Recognise limited resources available
• Less incentive to cooperate in innovative areas
Ofcom’s Technology Group
• Headed by Chief Technology Officer
• Comprises:– R&D Team– Technology Strategy Team
• Overall objective:
• “To apply technology insight and R&D resources to further Ofcom’s key objectives”
Technology Group Specific obligations from Comms Act
• S4(7) To encourage service interoperability• S4(9) To encourage compliance with standards• S10 To encourage availability of easily usable
apparatus• S11(1) To encourage development of content
rating & filtering systems• S152(4) To carry out spectrum research• S152(5) To make spectrum efficiency grants
Technology Group
• Other activities will include contributing to:– Spectrum trading– Digital switchover– Advice to Competition & Markets– Assessing impact of new technologies– Dialogue with industry & other stakeholders– Promulgating understanding and awareness
of technology within and without Ofcom
Concluding thoughts
• Ofcom is keen to continue supporting NICC
• Several NICC studies will be high on Ofcom’s
agenda, eg NGNs, DSL
• Keen to leverage NICC expertise in these areas
• Encourage NICC to build links with other co-
regulatory bodies
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