OFCOM

OFCOM

Hello all, 

Here are some notes I made about OFCOM during a Media Studies class.

Hope you all enjoy,

Max. 

OFCOM:

• OFCOM is the communications regulator in the UK.
• They regulate the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles postal services plus the airwaves over which mobile devices operate. (BT)
• Ofcom are responsible for ensuring that:

• the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband;
• a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;
• television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;
• people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;
• people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded;
• a universal postal service is provided in the UK - this means a six days a week, (Royal mail.) universally priced delivery and collection service across the country; and
• the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

However, OFCOM are not responsible for the following:

• disputes between you and your telecoms provider;
• premium-rate services, including mobile-phone text services and ringtones;
• the content of television and radio adverts;
• complaints about accuracy in BBC programmes;
• the BBC TV licence fee;
• post offices; or
• newspapers and magazines.

OFCOM has like many other corporations a governing board of directors that makes decisions for the company. it has a non executive chairman executive directors and non executive directors. The executives run the company and answer to the board. The board meets once a month bar August to discuss the company’s and sort out business agendas.  The results from the meeting are published on OFCOM’s website. They must act within the powers and duties set by parliament.

Violation of OFCOM.
OFCOM has a very strict set of rules that TV and Radio stations have to abide by. A full list of these rules can be found here: OFCOM code of conduct.If media outlets come within violation of these rules, servere sanctions may be implied. For example OFCOM fined EE Limited £1,000,000 as they were not compling properly with section 14- general compliance, rule 14.4.


My views on OFCOM.

Personally I think that an organisation like OFCOM is essential to have as they create a sane set of regulations that everyone abides by. If OFCOM did not exist, the media would be chaos with many inappropriate things being broadcast.