ITC SUPPORT 'DOUBLE DIVIDEND' APPROACH

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has welcomed Government plans to secure a double-dividend, both economic and cultural, from developments in the communications sector.
The ITC supports the main thrusts of the White Paper, including proposals to simplify and streamline regulation, reducing the cost to business but effective where necessary to protect consumers; and the merging of regulators into a structure that will be more effective, when needed, in dealing with major, often multinational, players.
In particular, the ITC welcomed the White Paper’s priorities on competition and access for service providers to essential facilities, such as set-top boxes, and due prominence on programme guides for public service broadcasters - an essential development for viewers.
The ITC welcomed the adoption of a three-tier approach to content regulation, with a single industry standards code applied to all, special obligations for public service broadcasters and inclusion of the ITC’s plan for annual statements of commitment to public service from the main networks. The ITC intends to launch this last development in the New Year, and will be able to test its effectiveness for at least a year before legislation is in place.
Patricia Hodgson, Chief Executive of the ITC, is understood to be in discussions with David Edmonds, her counterpart at Oftel, in a bid to move forward the process of setting up the new framework. The ITC will is also to work closely with the Radio Communications Agency on digital switchover.
In a joint statement, the ITC and Oftel, who will start work immediately with the other regulators on the move towards the creation of Ofcom, said: “We have already had constructive discussions on how to regulate in a digital environment. This process can now be developed and extended. The ITC and Oftel look forward to developing objectives that bring together the different priorities of all regulators in this critical area.”
Discussions have taken place to develop a closer working relationship between the ITC, the Broadcasting Standards Commission and the Radio Authority.
Regular meetings of the three organisations are to take place in the run up to the drawing up of the relevant legislation.
(CD)