Broadcasting Standards Commission

Independent Television Commission

Office of Telecommunications

Radiocommunications Agency

Radio Authority

The Government’s White Paper, "A New Future for Communications", sets out a new vision for the regulation of communications, bringing together the five existing bodies into one new regulatory body OFCOM. In the meantime, the Government has asked them "to continue to develop greater co-ordination and integration of their operations and to carry out their responsibilities in a way which will help to deliver the goals" set out in the White Paper.

Mindful of that request, and to the extent consistent with their statutory duties, the five bodies have pledged:

To work together through a steering group of the Chief Executives to facilitate the creation of the new body using appropriate consultancy, departmental and staff input

To develop policy issues together where there are common interests through the sharing of information, consultation, networking, meetings and the exchange of papers

To identify mechanisms to facilitate collaboration on matters of common concern to the bodies including those set out in the attached schedule and to keep the said schedule under review

To take care to involve the relevant bodies in any consultation exercises

To develop common positions wherever possible in briefing for representation at international meetings dealing with spectrum, the European Directives and content issues

To develop a common strategic vision for the future convergence of the regulatory organisations

To establish mechanisms to ensure that complaints are handled so as to avoid double jeopardy wherever possible

To ensure sufficient links between our web sites and other information systems so that our customers are able to follow our work and our relationships

To involve our staffs as collaboratively as possible in the building of the new body and, in the meantime, in any internal reorganisation to bear in mind existing capabilities and skills in the other bodies so as to avoid unjustified duplication of expenditure

Our staffs will work within the spirit of this memorandum in their dealings with the other bodies, and seek to resolve any difficulties at working level.

We will keep the operation of this memorandum under review and develop it further as necessary.

 27 March 2001

Proposed areas for joint collaboration

a. Digital switchover

Broadband roll-out

Technical standards

National and international frequency clearance

Access issues, including EPGs and interactive television

Development of European legislation: TWF, Technical Standards and Communications Directives

b. Competition in relevant markets

c. Development of internet and e-commerce


d. Elaboration of content codes

Consumer representation, to develop distinctions between services and content

Tracking complaints trends, including volume and composition

Audience research

Media literacy

e. Human Rights Act issues

Freedom of Information policy and practice

Data protection

f. Convergence