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Ofcom: a short guide to what we do

This guide was last updated in April 2008. It has been clarity approved by the Plain English Campaign (Crystal Mark 15622) and is available in the following formats:


A short guide to what we do:


Ofcom - Office of Communications

We are an independent organisation which regulates the UK’s broadcasting, telecommunications and wireless communications sectors. We also set and enforce rules on fair competition between companies in these industries.


About us

Our legal duties

Our main legal duties, as set out in the UK Communications Act 2003, are to ensure:

  • the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed information services (for example, broadband);
  • a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;
  • television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;
  • people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;
  • people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded; and
  • the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

We are funded by:

  • fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks; and
  • grant-in-aid from the Government.

We answer to the UK Parliament but we are independent of the UK Government. The Government Departments that sponsor us are the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

See: Statutory Duties and Regulatory Principles | Accountability


Broadcasting

We are responsible for licensing all UK commercial television and radio services. These include:

  • the existing TV channels and radio stations;
  • digital TV services such as Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media and all digital radio stations;
  • internet TV services such as Home Choice;
  • Public Teletext and Restricted Service Licences for both TV and radio; and
  • Community radio.

Our Broadcasting Code sets out rules which television and radio broadcasters must follow. The code aims to set standards to protect people under the age of 18 from material that is not suitable for them, while allowing broadcasters an appropriate amount of creative freedom.

We aim to maintain and strengthen the UK’s high-quality public service broadcasting. We make sure a broad range of television programmes are made - and by independent producers as well as by broadcasters, including those in countries and regions in the UK.

See: Television Broadcast Licensing | The Ofcom Broadcasting Code | Ofcom Broadcast Bulletins


Telecommunications

Charges for land line, mobile-phone services and broadband are becoming more and more competitive, with new products and lower prices for businesses and customers. We aim to make sure that companies are able to compete fairly and that businesses and customers benefit from the choice of a broad range of services.

Having a more competitive and open market can, in certain cases, lead to unfair selling practices. We investigate unfair practices and take action to protect customers, in some cases taking enforcement action against companies involved in mis-selling.

We also make sure that everyone in the UK has access to a basic phone service, including people on low incomes and people who live in rural parts of the country.

See: Voluntary Code of Practice: Broadband Speeds | Competition and Consumer Bulletin


Radio spectrum

You can’t see it, hear it or touch it, but radio spectrum is central to our everyday lives; it is the essential raw material for all mobile services, radio and television broadcasting as well as wireless communications used for defence, the emergency services and transport.

We are responsible for managing civilian use of the radio spectrum. Our work involves releasing spectrum for new uses, allowing organisations to develop new wireless services for the benefit of citizens and consumers.

Because spectrum is a finite natural resource, it is very valuable and demand for it is increasing all the time. Our work also involves developing policies to ensure that the spectrum is used efficiently.

We also monitor the airways 24-hours a day to identify cases of interference. Our Technical Investigations Team takes action to protect safety-of-life services, such as the fire brigade and air traffic control from illegal activity such as pirate radio or the use of unauthorised wireless devices.

See: Spectrum Awards | Digital Dividend Review (DDR) | Enforcing Legal Use of Radio Spectrum


Competition and investigations

We investigate complaints about behaviour that goes against the rules of competition and make decisions on disputes between companies. For example, this could involve:

  • enforcing rules on telecoms providers that have a large share of the market; and
  • setting general rules that all telecoms providers must keep to.

We can also work with the Office of Fair Trading to enforce competition law.

See: Competition and Consumer Bulletin


Our structure

Our Board

Our main Board provides guidance on the way forward for our organisation. It has a Non-Executive Chairman, Executive Directors (including the Chief Executive), and Non-Executive Directors.

See: The Ofcom Board

Content Board

The Content Board is a committee of the main Board and it sets and enforces quality and standards for television and radio. The Content Board has members representing each of the countries in the UK.

See: The Ofcom Content Board


Advisory committees

A number of committees and advice organisations support us and offer advice. The advisory committees for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales provide advice on matters their country is particularly interested in or concerned about.

The Communications Consumer Panel is independent of us and provides advice on matters affecting customers in the markets we regulate.

We also have an Advisory Committee for Older and Disabled People to make sure we take their particular interests into account, and a Spectrum Advisory Board made up of people with particular technical knowledge and skills.

See: The Consumer Panel | Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People | Advisory Committees for the Nations


What we do not do

We are not responsible for regulating:

  • disputes between you and your telecoms provider;
  • e-mails and internet content (including internet content available on mobile phones);
  • premium-rate services, including mobile-phone text services and ringtones;
  • the content of television and radio adverts;
  • complaints about accuracy in BBC programmes;
  • the BBC TV licence fee; or
  • newspapers and magazines.

Please see below for details of who you should contact instead.

Disputes between you and your telecoms provider

If you are not satisfied with how your telecoms provider has handled your complaint, you are entitled to a free service to solve the dispute.

This is normally through the Telecommunications Ombudsman - Otelo, or through CISAS - the Communications & Internet Services Adjudication Scheme. Otelo’s website is at www.otelo.org.uk and their phone number is 01925 430049. CISAS’s website is at is at www.cisas.org.uk and their phone number is 020 7520 3827.

Internet content and e-mails

Please contact your internet service provider.

Mobile-phone multimedia content

Please contact your mobile phone company.

Premium-rate services, including mobilephone text-message services and ringtones

Please contact Phonepay Plus. Their website is www.phonepayplus.org.uk and their phone number is 0800 500 212

Television and radio adverts

Please contact the Advertising Standards Authority. Their website is at www.asa.org.uk and their phone number is 020 7492 2222.

Complaints about accuracy in BBC television or radio programmes or about the BBC TV licence fee

Visit the BBC website at www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus.

Complaints about articles in newspapers or magazines

Please contact the Press Complaints Commission. Their website is www.pcc.org.uk and their phone number is 020 7831 0022.


More information

You can explore our website for information on every sector we regulate. We have also written two guides you may find useful: Finding information on the Ofcom website and Using keyword search.

If you fail to find what you are looking for you can now search our website using the public Google search engine or contact us using the details below:

Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA

Telephone: 020 7981 3000 or 0300 123 3000
Fax: 020 7981 3333 or 0300 123 0811

To speak to a member of the Ofcom Advisory Team

Telephone: 020 7981 3040 or 0300 123 3333
Textphone: 020 7981 3043 or 0300 123 2024
Welsh line: 020 7981 3042 or 0300 123 2023

Email: contact@ofcom.org.uk

Please note that we may monitor and record calls to the Ofcom Advisory Team



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