In this five minute guide, we explain the responsibilities that Oftel has for certain broadcasting services.

Oftel's main broadcasting function is to ensure that digital television viewers are able to access what they want, particularly innovative digital services.

Oftel regulates four aspects of broadcasting: conditional access, access control, electronic programme guides and terrestrial transmission.

Conditional access services allow broadcasters to supply their television programmes only to those customers who are entitled to watch them. The entitlement might be to those who have paid to receive certain programmes, those within a defined geographic area, or both. Companies negotiate their own prices with BSkyB (the only present provider of conditional access), but can refer the matter to Oftel if they cannot reach agreement. Conditional access services must be provided on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.

Access control services are used to offer interactive services through a digital TV set-top box. They are similar to conditional access services, except they are used to provide interactive services rather than TV channels. As the name suggests, interactive services allow viewers to interact with their TV – for instance, choose the camera angle at a football match or call up match statistics. These services also allow viewers to contact suppliers via a modem in the set-top box, which in turn allows them, for example, to order a CD that is being advertised, or send and receive e-mails. Oftel regulates BSkyB's provision of access control services along the same lines as conditional access services – on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

Electronic programme guides (EPGs) are electronic versions of listings magazines which can be viewed on TV screens. They help viewers find and select programmes, pay-per-view broadcasts and interactive services to view and use. At present, Oftel and the Independent Television Commission (ITC) jointly regulate EPGs. Working together, both organisations make sure that the terms and conditions for listing a broadcaster's programmes within the EPG are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory, and that the listings themselves are fair to broadcasters (eg that decisions about their positioning are taken on a non-discriminatory basis).

Terrestrial transmission allows broadcasters to supply their TV and radio channels to viewers equipped with ordinary TVs and radios (ie those not connected to cable or satellite). Two companies, ntl and Crown Castle, have extensive networks of transmitters that cover different parts of the country- each offers the other the ability to use its transmitters (through a site-sharing agreement). In this way, both companies can offer nationwide coverage to broadcasters. ntl supplies ITV, Channels 4 and 5, whilst Crown Castle supplies the BBC. Oftel regulates the licenses of ntl and Crown Castle to provide these services, imposes a price control on both companies as broadcasters have to use their networks to reach their viewers.

As well as Oftel, several other organisations have responsibility for regulating the broadcasting market.

The ITC deals with viewers' interests and aims to ensure that viewers have a wide range of diverse, quality viewing. It issues licences that allow commercial TV companies to broadcast services. The ITC also set and monitor standards for programme content, advertising, sponsorship and technical quality.

The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) is the statutory body for standards and fairness in broadcasting. It covers all television and radio services, both terrestrial and satellite. Its main responsibilities stem from the Broadcasting Act, 1996, and include producing codes of conduct relating to standards and fairness..

The Radio Authority licenses and regulates all commercial radio services. These comprise national, local, cable, satellite and restricted services, on both analogue and digital platforms. The Authority has three main tasks: to plan frequencies; to appoint licensees with a view to broadening listener choice; and to regulate programming and advertising.

See Outside Oftel on pages 10-11 for the ITC's current views on broadcasting in the run up to Ofcom.