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11|12|07

Ofcom publishes Draft Annual Plan 2008/9

Ofcom today published its draft Annual Plan 2008/9 for consultation. The plan sets out Ofcom’s proposed work programme for the next financial year starting in April 2008.

Priorities for 2008/9

Ofcom’s three-year policy framework was set out in last year’s Annual Plan and seeks to help deliver the benefits of convergence for UK citizens and consumers. Ofcom today proposes a wide-ranging programme of work for 2008/9 as part of this framework:

Driving forward a market-based approach to spectrum, including:

• Releasing new spectrum, promoting trading and liberalisation: including the work to award the digital dividend, the spectrum that will be freed-up through digital television switchover.

Promoting competition and innovation in converging markets, including:

• Implementing Ofcom’s strategy for fixed telecoms: ensuring that BT Group plc continues to implement the Undertakings that were agreed as a result of the Telecoms Strategic Review.
• Preparing for next generation core and access networks: maintaining competition in the UK communications sector whilst ensuring that customers are protected as operators invest in next generation of core and access networks.
• Promoting competition in pay TV: continuing our work to examine the UK pay TV market.
• Developing Ofcom’s approach to mobile: an assessment of Ofcom’s overall approach to regulation of the sector including the implications of convergence and identifying the scope for deregulation, innovation and competition in the mobile market.

Delivering public interest objectives as platforms and services converge, including:

• Promoting access and inclusion: including understanding the obstacles to the delivery and take-up of communications services for all and considering Ofcom’s role in removing or reducing these obstacles.
• Examining future models for public service broadcasting: assessing future options for funding, delivery and regulation of public service broadcasting as convergence continues and content is delivered on new platforms.
• Developing an approach for the evolution of radio: working with the cross-industry Digital Radio Working Group on future digital options for radio broadcasters and simplifying analogue commercial and community radio regulation.

Empowering citizens and consumers and improving regulatory compliance where necessary, including:

• Developing and enforcing consumer protection policies: continuing our efforts to improve the quality of broadband switching and home moves and making progress on our review of the scope, purpose and effectiveness of premium rate services regulation.
• Promoting media literacy: encouraging industry to provide information about content and promoting effective, easy to use tools to empower people to manage their access to media.

Supporting the evolution of the legal and economic frameworks for regulation, including:

• Engaging in development of new EU legislation: continuing to influence the way the regulatory policy evolves, with the aim of minimising administrative burdens, in order to best represent the interests of UK citizens and consumers.

See Related Items for the draft Annual Plan 2008/9.

As part of the consultation process Ofcom is holding a series of public events in the Nations and Regions, for details please see Related Items.

The consultation closes on 19 February 2008.

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