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14|12|05

Ofcom publishes Annual Plan 2006/7 for consultation

Ofcom today published its draft Annual Plan for April 2006 to March 2007. The plan is subject to consultation until 10 February. The final Annual Plan will be published in April 2006.

The plan identifies nine priorities:

1. Spectrum release: auction and liberalisation – releasing and liberalising spectrum, facilitating trading and raising awareness of the opportunities offered by a more market-led approach to spectrum management.
2. Telecoms strategic review implementation – promoting competition and innovation in both broadband and voice services by ensuring effective implementation of the Undertakings made by BT Group plc; and by ensuring an effective and swift transition to an appropriate regulatory approach for new networks and IP services.
3. Continued deregulation – continuing to explore opportunities to reduce and better target regulation, taking account of the latest regulatory thinking (Hampton and Arculus Reviews), reducing costs and minimising unpredictability.
4. Next generation deployment – understanding how the next generation of telecoms networks and services are evolving and considering the implications for regulation, both in the core network and in the access network, which can be used for higher-speed broadband.
5. PSB: future developments – continuing work to combine consumer choice in a digital world with benefits for viewers arising from more focused and enduring public service broadcasting. Work will include a financial review of Channel 4, the development of proposals for the Public Service Publisher and input into the BBC Charter Review in those areas which overlap with Ofcom’s responsibilities. Ofcom will also conclude its work on local TV and will consider how news is likely to be produced and consumed in the future.
6. Content delivery – understanding how new methods of delivering internet and media content are creating opportunities for innovation and examining the potential public benefits. Ofcom will also consider the implications for regulation and ensure appropriate protection for children.
7. Consumer protection – taking enforcement action to protect the public, handling complaints effectively and promoting media literacy.
8. Availability and access – identifying areas where market failures may make intervention necessary to offer people access to services such as broadband and digital television. This work will be informed by Ofcom’s ongoing audit of the Nations and Regions.
9. International engagement – seeking to influence the way that regulatory policy evolves; in particular, the new EU Directive on television and other audio-visual content, the revised EU Framework for electronic communications and international negotiations on spectrum, including the Regional Radio Conference 2006.

Financials: Ofcom’s operating budget for 2006/7 will be £129.5m; this is 5% lower in real terms than the 2005/6 budget and 12% lower in real terms than the operating budget for 2004/5.

Ofcom Chief Executive Stephen Carter said: “The communications sector continues to develop at an encouraging pace.”

He added: “Our priorities reflect our continuing commitment to liberalise and deregulate where possible.”

The full draft Annual Plan is available at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/annual_plan2006/annual_plan200607/

Ends.

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