ACTs news

The draft Communications Bill

The draft Communications Bill has been firmly on the agenda of the Advisory Committees on Telecommunications (ACTs) since the last issue of Oftel News. It outlines proposed duties and powers for the new Office of Communications (OFCOM), which is expected to include a Content Board and a Consumer Panel.

The Telecoms Advisory Panel (TAP) that comprises the Chairman of the six ACTs commissioned consultants to produce a short study on the Consumer Panel. The report was completed in May 2002 and considered the Panel's scope, composition, remit and its relationship to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions and a number of consumer groups, for example those on low incomes, small businesses and people who are older or disabled.

The findings of the study have informed the ACTs' own views and their advice to the Director General of Telecommunications. The six ACTs provided written evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill and submitted their views to the public consultation conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Joint Communications Bill Team.

In July there were a number of ACT events related to the draft Bill. The TAP hosted a consumer seminar on 11 July attended by a number of organisations, including the Consumers' Association, the National Consumer Council, the Disability Rights Commission and the Voice of the Listener & Viewer. The seminar focused on the definition of the 'consumer' in the draft Bill and the OFCOM Consumer Panel. The Welsh and Scottish ACTs held receptions at the House of Commons in July where David Edmonds and the respective ACT Chairmen spoke about the Draft Bill. The receptions were attended by a number of MPs and members of the House of Lords.

CCE Internet seminar

Consumer Communications for England (CCE), the advisory committee for England, will hold an Internet seminar on 9 September focusing on the interface between communications regulation and Internet issues. Proposed areas of discussion include Internet domain names, the impact of broadband on small businesses and e-commerce.

ACTs people

The four members of Communications for Business, the advisory committee for small business, have been re-appointed by the Director General and, like other ACT members, are expected to serve until the ACTs are abolished by the Communications Act.

Paul Rogers has joined Oftel as the new Head of ACT Secretariat. Paul brings to the ACTs experience of regulation in the education, pensions and energy sectors.

In Scotland Jan Edwards has joined the Scottish ACT to provide administrative support to the Secretary.

For further information on the work of the ACTs, please contact the ACT Secretariat (tel: 020 7634 5301 or e-mail actsec@acts.org.uk). The ACTs website is at www.acts.org.uk where copies of ACT submissions on the Draft Communications Bill and other public consultations can be found.