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The Committee advises Ofcom about the interests and opinions of older and disabled people living in the UK.

The Committee consists of twelve members with Mike Whitlam as Chairman.

The Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled people will report directly to the Ofcom Board and will publish its own annual report. Consumer Panel Members leading on issues for older and disabled people (Colette Bowe, Bob Twitchin & Kevin McLaughlin) will also be invited to attend meetings of the Committee.

The remit of the Advisory Committee will be to:

• seek to identify issues affecting the communications sector of interest to older and disabled people, both collectively as a Committee and individually as Members, with particular reference to the sectors where they have particular knowledge or expertise;
• to provide advice to Ofcom about general and specific issues concerning the communications sectors relating to older and disabled people;
• to provide advice and comment as required on matters brought to the Committee by Ofcom;
• to offer comment, as appropriate, on consultations undertaken by Ofcom;
• where requested by the Content Board, to provide specific advice to that Board on matters relating to television, radio and other content on services regulated by Ofcom;
• when so requested by the Ofcom Board, to provide advice to the Consumer Panel on matters relating to older and disabled people in the communications sector;
• to provide Ofcom with advice on matters relating to its responsibilities for the promotion of media literacy affecting older and disabled people;
• to contribute to Ofcom's annual report to ensure the work of the regulator within the communications sector on issues relating to older and disabled people is reflected.

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