Posted: 12th Dec, 2006 By: MarkJ
Ofcom has today published its draft Annual Plan 2007/8 for consultation, setting out the regulators policy framework for the next three years:
Under each of the five key areas for the next three years, Ofcom proposes the following priorities for 2007/8:
- Accelerating the development of a market-based approach to spectrum: continue to develop a secondary market in spectrum trading; release more spectrum to allow new services to develop; and represent the UK on international bodies to further Ofcoms aim of securing the optimal use of spectrum.
- Promoting competition and innovation in converging markets: promote competition in fixed-line telecoms, broadband, television and radio markets; secure competition and investment in next generation networks; assess how wireless platforms will contribute to convergence; and identify potential new sources of market power that might emerge through convergence.
- Enabling services that are important to UK citizens as platforms and services converge: review how Ofcom protects viewers and listeners through content regulation; promote access and inclusion in the availability and use of communications services; and maintain diverse and high-quality content in public service broadcasting.
- Improving industry compliance and empowering consumers: make enforcement more targeted and effective; ensure that consumers can switch providers quickly and easily; and help people acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding to use communications services effectively.
- Moving towards more consistent legal and economic frameworks: Ofcom will begin preparatory work to examine where it is desirable to move towards greater consistency between legal and economic frameworks which govern different communications platforms.
It's largely generalised information, but should be interesting to some, although I do wish Ofcom would use a larger default text size. Full details
here.