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The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is required by the Communications Act 2003 to promote the development of effective forms of co- and self- regulation (for the Act see IRIS 2003-8: 10). After consultation, Ofcom has now published its approach and the criteria that will be used for promoting co- and self- regulation. The criteria in fact mainly cover co-regulation rather than self-regulation where it is noted that there is an absence of regulatory oversight; examples given of co-regulation are the regulation of telecommunications premium-rate services, arrangements for dispute resolution and...

The minister for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned a review of BBC online services, originally authorised in 1988, to contribute to the current review of the BBC's Royal Charter; it was carried out by Philip Graf, former chief executive of the newspaper publishers group Trinity Mirror. The report considered the services in considerable detail and found that BBC Online delivers high quality material in an effective and user-friendly manner. However, some sites such as fantasy football, games sites and "what's on" listings are not sufficiently distinct from commercial alternatives or are inadequately...

The UK's Communications Act 2003 (Sections 303, 305) requires the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to "to draw up, and from time to time to review and revise, a code giving guidance" as to how broadcasters should ensure the "understanding and enjoyment" of programmes by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; blind or partially-sighted; and persons with a dual sensory impairment (i.e. both). Such an undertaking will be fulfilled by the provision of adequate "Television Access Services". Examples of such services are: subtitling, signing and audio description. Additionally, under Section 310...

In October 2003, the Office of Communications (OFCOM) initiated a consultation regarding "contracting out its broadcast advertising regulatory functions to a self-regulator in a co-regulatory partnership..." The proposal was that a new body ­ under the "banner" of the existing Advertising Standards Authority ­ be established to draw up, review and enforce an advertising content code for broadcast television and radio. The code-setting body would be the Broadcasting Committee of Advertising Practice and the enforcement body would be the Advertising Standards Authority (Broadcasting). OFCOM would...

The Communications Act 2003 (see IRIS 2003-8: 10) contains a "plurality test" under which the minister may refer certain media mergers to the communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), for advice on public interest considerations. This precedes the decision of the minister whether or not to refer the merger to the competition authorities on the grounds that it may be against the public interest, to negotiate undertakings in place of a reference, or to clear the merger. Ofcom has now issued guidance on the public interest test to be adopted in its advice. The guidance stresses...