Minutes of Advisory Committee for Scotland - Meeting held on 2 February 2006

Present:

Joyce Taylor – Chair, ACS
Selma Rahman – ACS
Fiona MacLeod – ACS
Julie Ramage – ACS
Susan Neal – ACS
Thomas Prag – ACS
Matthew MacIver - Ofcom Content Board Member for Scotland
Andrew Muir – ACS
Martin Robertson – ACS
Philip Schlesinger – ACS

1. Apologies for absence

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

2. Minutes and Matters Arising

2.1 The minute of the last meeting was approved with one amendment.

2.2 Under matters arising ACS were updated on a number of issues with the result that a briefing on BT’s 21 Century Network be arranged for the Committee. ACS noted their response submitted to Ofcom’s Phase 2 Radio Review document. Further engagement with the BBC’s Broadcasting Council for Scotland should be explored.

3. Director’s Report

3.1 The Annual Plan events were well attended and ACS were briefed on the questions asked. A number of changes to cultural policy in Scotland have been presented in recent weeks, ACS want to ensure that any areas within Ofcom’s remit are investigated.

4. Nations and Regions Audit Feedback/Update

4.1. Chair, ACS advised that as agreed at the previous meeting, she had written to David Currie, Chairman, Ofcom with ACS Scotland’s comments. She had been advised that the Board were awaiting responses from all Advisory Committees before formulating their final view.

4.2 The ACS was briefed on the findings of the audit.

4.3 ACS made reference to the small sample size used in the research. ACS felt that there was a need for in-depth research for Scotland. Postcode data should be treated with caution. The average figures mask the differences within Scotland. ACS expressed a wish to see the specific audit report for Scotland.

4.4 ACS further felt that there was scope for a specific survey covering rural areas across the nations and regions.

4.5 ACS expressed interest in the lower than average landline take-up in Scotland: is this a growing issue? Is the USO perhaps not achieving its objective? Concern was also expressed that younger age groups do not have landline access.

4.6 On digital radio, ACS felt that the data showing availability via set top boxes masks the reality i.e. people do not think of it as radio unless received through a radio set.

4.7 ACS raised various questions regarding broadband viz., will it cover speeds; will it distinguish areas where there is no prospect of going above 512 kbs; will it make reference to areas served by poor quality of cabling? It was felt, however, that broadband offered huge potential for rural areas.

4.8 With regard to the issue of exclusion, ACS suggested that voluntary exclusion among higher income groups could be as a result of a backlash against technology. ACS were keen to see as much disaggregation of figures as possible. It was felt, however, that the divide between those who have access to all three main platforms and those who have none raised policy questions both for industry and government.

4.9 ACS expressed particular interest in the reasons why SMEs were part of the scope of the project and questioned whether Ofcom was intervening in industrial policy.

4.10 It was agreed that ACS Chair would report back comments to Ofcom.

5. Digital UK

5.1 Digital UK gave a useful presentation on preparatory work taking place in the Border area. ACS contributed ideas on how Digital UK could handle local consultation. ACS also discussed the possibility of holding their next meeting in the Borders with the proviso that additional useful meetings be arranged.

6. Television Production Sector Review

6.1 ACS was keen to respond to this review. Some of the issues of particular interest were diversity; intervention in geographic concentration; local future developments; and geographic quota.

6.2 There followed a lengthy discussion on the review with particular emphasis on the question of whether Ofcom was intervening more in industrial policy matters e.g. the focus on SMEs in the Audit and the proposals within this review.

6.3 It was agreed that Chair, ACS and Philip Schlesinger would lead on this issue. A draft response would be circulated to all members of ACS for comment.

7. Digital Local

7.1 The ACS was briefed on the Digital Local report. ACS expressed concern about the financial viability of providing good quality, local original material. ACS considered it essential to ensure plurality at grass root level. Ofcom Scotland undertook to keep ACS informed of any developments and to pass on any comments from ACS to the appropriate teams.

8. Ofcom Contact Centre (OCC) Information

8.1 ACS were interested in the relationship between the method people use to contact Ofcom and the Nations and Regions Audit results on access to communications technologies. Would this have a bearing on the demographic of people who contact Ofcom? They also questioned how people found out about Ofcom in order to contact them.

9. Any Other Business

10.1 ACS expressed interest in the future licensing of DAB digital radio in particular the possibility of regionalising the proposed DAB national multiplex. Responses to this are due by 15 March 2006.

10. Date of Next Meeting

11.1 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 18 and Wednesday, 19 April 2006. As discussed in item 5, the possibility of holding the meeting in the Borders area is to be investigated. In the event that it is not possible to schedule additional useful events, the meeting will be held in Glasgow.