Ofcom

Ofcom http://www.ofcom.org.uk/ is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. It regulates television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom define media literacy as: ‘the ability to access, understand and create communications in a variety of contexts’. This shows they are working within the same guidelines as Media Smart, They share a number of associates including:

• Davis Buckingham,
• Rebekah Willett,
• Robin Blake and
• Laura Simons.

Ofcoms responsibilities evoke that they have almost absolute power over general media outlets within the UK and therefore are able to enforce the views and which media smart outline to protect children from harmful advertisers.

Ofcom's statutory duties are set by the Communications Act 2003. Its corporate structure consists of: the Ofcom Board; a Content Board; the Executive branch; a Consumer Panel; and advisory committees.

Ofcom has accountability to Parliament and structured relationships with the Government and other regulatory bodies. It complies with the Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.

Ofcom regulates all UK airwaves for communication, to ensure the public receive the best service possible. This includes:

• TV
• Radio
• Telecommunications

Ofcom is accountable to Parliament and advises and sets some of the more technical aspects of regulation, implementing and enforcing the law. It is funded by fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and grant-in-aid from the Government.

What Ofcom does

Ofcom says its main legal duties are to ensure:

the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband;

a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;

television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;

people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;

people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded;

the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

What we do not do Ofcom is not responsible for regulating:

'disputes between you and your telecoms provider'

premium-rate services, including mobile-phone text services and ringtones

the content of television and radio adverts

complaints about accuracy in BBC programmes

the BBC TV licence fee; or

newspapers and magazines

Affiliations

Ofcom works with:

• Action with Communities in Rural England
• Age UK
• Antelope Consulting
• British Wireless for the Blind Fund
• Centre for Consumers and Essential Services
• Children’s Commissioner for England
• Citizens Advice
• Communications & Internet Services Adjudicators Scheme
• Communications Consumer Panel
• Community Network
• Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
• Consumer Focus
• DC10 plus
• Future Inclusion
• GK consulting
• Hearing Concern Link
• The Helplines Association
• International Longevity Centre
• Mediawatch
• Mind
• National Association of Deafened People
• National Consumer Federation
• Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman
• PhoneAbility
• PhonepayPlus
• Privacy International
• Public Utilities Access Forum
• Royal National Institute of Blind People
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People
• Scope
• Sense
• Telecommunications Action Group
• Trading Standards Institute
• Voice of the Listener and Viewer
• W4B The TV and Radio Charity
• Which?

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