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14|03|08

Minute of Advisory Committee for Scotland Meeting held in Sutherland House on Wednesday, 28 February 2007

Present:

Thomas Prag - Chair ACS

Joyce Taylor - Ofcom Content Board Member for Scotland

Andrew Muir - ACS

Susan Neal - ACS

Selma Rahman - ACS

Julie Ramage - ACS

Martin Robertson - ACS

Philip Schlesinger - ACS

Neil Fraser - Chairman, Gaelic Media Service

Graham Howell - Ofcom

Vicki Nash - Ofcom Scotland

Rhodri Williams - Ofcom Wales

Alan Stewart - Ofcom Scotland

Moray Borthwick - Ofcom Scotland

Chair, ACS introduced Rhodri Williams, Director Ofcom Wales who had taken on an additional role as Policy Co-coordinator for the Nations and Regions. Part of his remit was to ensure that Ofcom continues to derive the maximum value from its Advisory Committees. An inaugural meeting of AC Chairs had been arranged on 4 and 5 April 2007 in Riverside House.

1. Apologies for absence

1.1 Apologies were received from Fiona Ballantyne and Jim Hunter. Chair, ACS further advised that Jim Hunter had tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 21 November 2006

2.1 The minutes of the previous meeting were approved with one amendment.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Work continues on the Festival of Politics.

3.2 ACS had considered the draft annual plan, but had decided not to make a submission.

3.3 With regard to item 9, Consumer Outcomes Report, hard copies of this report were available for ACS perusal.

3.4 Under Item 10 – Content Board, ACS had requested that National Offices be kept aware of RSL applications. At present there was no such procedure in place and ACS was advised that local RSLS were not always formally announced. Ofcom Scotland currently investigating further and will report back to ACS.

4. Director’s Report

4.1 The Scottish Parliament event, while not hugely well attended, had been very useful.

4.2 The Glasgow Annual Plan event had been less well attended than in previous years. However, the Annual Plan dinner in Aberdeen had been very successful and it was felt that this would be a more useful format to be used in future.

4.3 ACS was advised that there had been a lot of kickback on the proposed sale of spectrum. Ofcom Scotland staff had attended an event at which there was fairly robust criticism of Ofcom.

4.4 ACS was updated on the current situation with regard to Gaelic broadcasting.

4.5 Philip Graf, Deputy Chairman of Ofcom had enjoyed a very useful visit to Scotland when he met with independent producers and new media companies.

4.6 It was agreed that ACS should keep a watching brief on the Culture Bill currently proceeding through the Scottish Parliament.

5. Communications and Market Report

5.1 ACS was briefed on some of the improvements which it is hoped to make to the Communications Market report. These included more bespoke research. ACS welcomed the changes already made particularly as considerable concern had been expressed about the depth of the research. ACS agreed to form a sub-group to consider and respond to the consultation. It was agreed the ACS should have early sight of research findings. It was important to take into account Exchange Activate.

6. PSP

6.1 A paper was presented to ACS on “A New Approach to Public Service Content in the Digital Media Age”. While this was primarily a discussion document designed to stimulate and encourage debate, comment from ACS would be welcomed. It was envisaged that debate would take place at various events which were at the moment still in the planning stage. ACS agreed to form a sub-group to consider and respond to the paper. Ofcom Scotland team to assist in preparation.

7. Digital Dividend Review

7.1 ACS queried whether interleaved spectrum could be used for local television. Ofcom London staff agreed to investigate and report back to Ofcom Scotland.

7.2 ACS expressed concern about price and availability of bands for use at public events, stage shows, etc. There had been a fair deal of misinformation in the press regarding this. Ofcom was considering whether it would be helpful to publish a discussion document on this particular issue.

7.3 ACS also expressed concern about smaller scale broadcasters who purchase their spectrum through JFMG at fixed rates and advised that this would be raised in their response.

7.4 ACS queried whether the auctioning of spectrum on a UK-wide basis could cause interference problems at geographical boundaries. ACS was advised that this issue was currently being considered and views would be welcomed.

7.5 ACS expressed concern about the possibility of organisations purchasing spectrum and then using this only in one part of the country and retaining the rest, thereby restricting its use by other more local users. ACS was advised that further analysis was currently being carried out on conditions to be included in the licences which would address this problem. If organisations were found to be acting in an anti-competitive manner, then Ofcom has powers to deal with this. ACS was again invited to submit their views on this issue.

7.6 ACS agreed to consider and formulate a response to this document.

8. Self Help Consultation

8.1 ACS expressed concern about the funding of digital terrestrial self-help relays and also whether the general public were aware that this consultation is taking place. ACS was advised that letters had been sent to the nominated holder of every self-help relay scheme advising them of this. It was agreed that ACS would formulate a response.

9. The Work of the TIOs in Scotland

9.1 ACS were given an an insight into the day to day activities of the Technical Investigation Officers in Scotland. ACS found this presentation interesting and informative.

10. Content Board Update

10.1 ACS were updated on the main issues under discussion by the Content Board. A Content Board sub-group had been set up to look at developing a three year plan. ACS members interested in information on this subject should contact the Content Board Member for Scotland.

10.2 The Member for Scotland would keep interested members informed about the future of children’s programming project.

10.2 ACS was further advised that applications for community radio licences in Scotland would be discussed at the April meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. Input from ACS members would be welcomed. Ofcom Scotland to circulate information to ACS members.

10.3 It was further agreed that a page of headlines on CB issues would be prepared for ACS for future meetings.

11. Consumer Panel Update

As the Ofcom Consumer Panel Member for Scotland was not in attendance, there was no discussion under this item.

12. Meeting with BBC Scotland Audience Panel

12.1 After a lengthy discussion, ACS agreed items for discussion at the meeting with the Audience Panel.

13. Ofcom Contact Centre Information and Celebrity Big Brother

13.1 The main programming issue had been Celebrity Big Brother. Of the 44,496 complaints received by Ofcom between 3 and 28 January, 5.7% were from people with Scottish postcodes; the majority being from Glasgow and Edinburgh. The only other significant programming issue was complaints about anti Irish comments on Scotsport.

13.2 The main telecoms issues were silent calls and complaints regarding tag on line from a previous service provide preventing a change of supplier. Ofcom has taken action to improve this.

13.3 There had been an increase in the number of contacts referring to amateur radio as a result of a new licensing system being implemented.

13.4 With regard to Celebrity Big Brother, ACS expressed concern that Ofcom had not been publicly perceived to be acting quickly enough to what was a recurring offence. The potential for referral to the Scottish police was also raised. It was explained that it was vital that Ofcom was seen to be following due process particularly in high profile cases such as this. A consultation will be taking place later in the year seeking views about Ofcom’s complaints procedures and it was agreed that ACS would input into this.

14. Any Other Business

14.1 Interviews will take place on 22 March 2007 in Glasgow for new members of the Advisory Committee for Scotland.

15. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will take place on 18 June 2007 in Glasgow.