Minutes of Advisory Committee for Scotland - Meeting held on 7 December 2005

Present:

Joyce Taylor – Chair, ACS
Selma Rahman – ACS
Fiona MacLeod – ACS
Julie Ramage – ACS
Susan Neal – ACS
Thomas Prag – ACS
Andrew Muir – ACS
Martin Robertson – ACS
Philip Schlesinger – ACS

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Graham Howell (Ofcom) and Fiona Ballantyne (Ofcom Consumer Panel).

2. Minutes and Matter Arising

2.1 The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed

2.2 Under matters arising, the Committee was updated on progress on the Emap/SRH merger.

2.3 It was agreed that the publication of the review on the independent production sector, would be covered under item 6 – Ofcom Going Forward.

3. Director’s Report

3.1 It was anticipated that a statement would be issued by the Scottish Executive the following week regarding the Cultural Commission report.

3.2 The official note of Ofcom’s appearance at the Enterprise and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 29 November would be posted on the Parliament’s website on 7 December. It was felt that this had been a very good opportunity to set out the stall for Ofcom in Scotland. A further, more informal, roundtable discussion was planned for Spring of next year. Both the Parliament and the Executive were keen to establish a strategy for the communications industry in Scotland, and we had offered assistance in their discussion going forward.

3.3 ACS was advised that the BBC and GMS had met, and were planning to meet again in December and January to discuss Gaelic broadcasting issues. Ofcom planned to hold a wider meeting in January of next year.
Proposed new Gaelic channel: Ofcom’s role would be as a broker to monitor progress towards establishing the channel and to have an overview of what is happening between the various groups. ACS encouraged progress on this matter.

3.4 ACS was updated on the progress of the Nations and Regions Audit and was thanked for input in terms of leads for research. There will be a consultation with ACS early next year and it was agreed that this should be included on the agenda of the February meeting.

3.5 ACS was advised that two Annual Plan events had been scheduled for early in the new year viz.,

19 January 2005 (1400): Dumfries - Public Consultation - Millie Banerjee, Ofcom, attending.
20 January 2005 (1030): The Lighthouse, Glasgow - Stakeholder Event - Graham Howell, Ofcom, attending

4. Numbering Strategy Review

4.1. This workstream aims to review Ofcom’s numbering activities, analyse current and future pressures on the plan and deliver a coherent, transparent, forward looking, consumer-focused approach to numbering which ensures availability of numbers and consumer confidence in the plan. ACS was particularly interested in Ofcom’s ability to refuse number blocks to organisations engaged in consumer abuse. ACS advised that these organisations could also be dealt with under the Enterprise Act. ACS also highlighted the need for greater price transparency and the need to improve consumer awareness of these issues.

5. TSR Update

5.1 An update was given on the strategic review, specifically on BT’s undertakings and how and when they would be implemented. ACS were primarily concerned that the overall effect on consumers was positive. The undertakings are a competitive tool however the broader aims of the Review encompass citizen and consumer issues. The competitive issues have a different facet in rural areas where competition even at a basic level is not achievable, but increasing regulation to provide equality for rural areas has the consequence of making these less attractive to competitors. In cases like these the regulator must seek to manage monopoly while also aiming for a competitive solution. The European Framework Review will touch on the USO question. The role of wireless broadband and satellite broadband provision and suitability is something that ACS would like to return to in the future. ACS would also like more information on the rollout of BT’s 21st Century Network in Scotland and its operability.

6. Ofcom Going Forward

6.1 ACS raised a number of policy issues for further discussion and highlighted those it felt that Ofcom needed to explore in more detail, including Media Literacy, Out of London production and the independent sector review, the Nations and Regions Audit and digital switchover.. It was noted that the Ofcom Board were due to consider the N&R Audit at their meeting in January. Members agreed that they wanted to ensure that the Board did not formulate a final view on this project before it had the chance to consider the comments or reflections that ACS might have on the Scottish data. It was therefore hoped that this workstream might also form part of the Board’s agenda in February and it was agreed that the Chairman write to David Currie in this regard.

7. Annual Plan

7.1 Key highlights of the annual plan consultation document which will be issued on 13 December 2005 were presented to ACS. The consultation will close on 10 February 2006, with the Plan being published on 4 April 2006. As noted under Item 3 – Director’s Report, two Annual Plan events will be held in Scotland on 19 and 20 January. ACS were asked to submit comments on the Plan and to have these ready for the next meeting of the ACS which will be on 2 February 2005.

8. Local Television Event

8.1 It was reported that this event had been very useful and well attended by representatives from a wide range of people (satellite/broadband and terrestrial). ACS was advised of the some of the salient points raised.

8.2 It is intended that the Local Government Scotland Act and the Broadcasting Act will be amended to allow local authorities to hold broadcasting licences. These amendments should be approved by 2008.

8.3 Most of the commercial broadcasters had indicated that a population of 300-400,000 was necessary for a local channel to be successful. Isle of Wight – an RSL with a combination of local advertising and grant funding did not have this commercial aspect but were very successful. It would seem that broadband is not going to be a solution for coverage problems in rural areas of Scotland. Disappointment had been expressed at the event about the position of the DCMS and the technical options for local television. ACS felt it was very important that further discussion on these issues should take place.

9. Ofcom Contact Centre (OCC) Information

9.1 A report for the period 1 September – 23 November 2005 was presented to the meeting. ACS requested that they be updated on the timetable for handling complaints.

10. Any Other Business

10.1 Members were reminded that when attending other events as a member of the Advisory Committee they should ensure that it is understood that they are not speaking on behalf of Ofcom. It had also been clarified that for these events, expenses cannot be claimed and that any attendance by ACS members which might incur expenditure for Ofcom should first be cleared through the Director, Scotland.

10.2 The Radio Review Phase 2 consultation will close on 11 January 2006 and ACS were keen to ensure that their previous comments had been taken on board. It was agreed that Thomas Prag consider this issue further and make any required input.

10.3 It was agreed that, prior to future meetings of ACS, the Chair and Ofcom Scotland would liaise to ensure that any proposed presentations are focussed on issues of specific relevance and interest to ACS.

11. Date of Next Meeting

11.1 The date of the next meeting was agreed as Thursday, 2 February 2006, 1100 to 1600 hours in Sutherland House, 149 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.