Government curbs Ofcom's powers
Guardian 14/10/2010
"Ofcom is to have a number of its powers curtailed including its responsibility for running regular reviews of public service broadcasting and media ownership rules ...
The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, made the announcements today as part of sweeping changes that will see 19 of the 55 public bodies for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible either abolished or significantly reformed.
... confirmed ... that Postcomm, the postal services regulator, will be merged into Ofcom.
Hunt also announced
eight key changes to how Ofcom's duties will be changed. The DCMS said that the restructure was designed to "return the policy-setting role to the secretary of state, reduce unnecessary expense and to avoid duplication".
DCMS (Dept Cult Med Sport) Press Release:
[1]Amend the duty for Ofcom to review public service broadcasting every five years (part 3, section 264 of the Communications Act 2003) so that a review will only be conducted at the discretion of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will also determine the scope of the review.
[2]Allow Ofcom flexibility to implement changes to its governance structures (part 1 section 12-21 of the Communications Act 2003). Any revised structure will require the approval of the Secretary of State.
[3]Remove the duty on Ofcom to promote development opportunities for training and equality of opportunity (part 1 section 27 of the Communications Act 2003);
[4]Change the regional Channel 3 networking arrangement review from an annual review to a reserve power for Ofcom to assess as required (section 290-294 and Schedule 11 of the Communications Act 2003);
[5]Amend the duty for Ofcom to review the media ownership rules every three years (section 391 of the Communications Act 2003) so that a review will be conducted at the discretion of the Secretary of State.
[6]Remove the requirement for public service broadcasters to provide annual statements of programme policy (266 and 270 of the Communications Act 2003); and
[7]Amend the duty on Ofcom to review a “change of control” to a Channel 3 licensee or Channel 5 (section 351 and 353 of the Communications Act 2003) so that one isn’t automatically required. However, the Secretary of State will retain the power to request one. The fit and proper persons regime on new owners of channel 3 and 5 licences will remain.
[8]Enable Ofcom to charge fees for satellite filings made to the International Telecommunications Union (section 28 of the Communications Act 2003)
Ofcom HQ - note concealed evil missile launcher