Ofcom Takes Over

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Ofcom has today taken over as the new regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom's duties include -

The promotion of choice, quality and value in electronic communications services, where appropriate by encouraging competition between the providers of those services.

Ensuring the most efficient use of the radiocommunications spectrum – the airwaves used for the transmission of all non-military wireless communications services.

Ensuring a wide range of electronic communications services, including broadband, is available across the UK.

Ensuring a wide range of television and radio programmes of high quality and wide appeal.

Maintaining plurality in the media by ensuring a sufficiently broad range of ownership
The protection of audiences against offensive or harmful material, unfairness or the infringement of privacy on television and radio.

Ofcom has taken over the responsibilities and has assumed the powers of the five former regulators it has replaced – the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Independent Television Commission, Oftel, the Radio Authority and the Radiocommunications Agency.