Ofcom s draft work programme for 04/5

Ofcom today published its draft 2014/15 Annual Plan for consultation, outlining its work programme for the next financial year.

Ofcom's proposed plan of work for the 12 months will focus on seven broad themes.1

Among these is Ofcom's work on the cost and value of communications services. This will continue to target issues including the affordability of core services such as stand-alone landline telephone for vulnerable consumers, and the adoption and use of services by disabled consumers.

Ofcom will publish its most recent work on cost and value in the Consumer Experience report in January 2014.

Another theme will be quality of service, which matters as much as availability, and is increasingly important for consumers. In mobile, Ofcom will conduct work on providing consumer information regarding the quality of experience and broadband speeds.

Within the overarching themes, Ofcom has placed its annual priorities into the following categories:

Promote effective competition and informed choice. Ofcom will continue to focus on ensuring competition and investment in current and superfast broadband, and promoting choice for consumers through clear information and efficient switching processes. In 2015, Ofcom will oversee the implementation of changes under which consumers switching telephone or broadband supplier will only have to deal with the new company.2

Secure optimal use of spectrum. This will range from encouraging spectrum sharing through emerging technology such as white space' devices, to delivering spectrum and interference management for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Ofcom will also carry out preparations for its auction of new spectrum, which is being released by the Ministry of Defence, and which can help meet the UK's growing demand for mobile data capacity.3

Promote opportunities to participate. For consumers and citizens to benefit from communications services, they need to be able to access and make efficient use of them. Ofcom's activity in this area will include new work to evaluate the affordability of core communications services. Ofcom will also focus on its on-going duty to secure the universal postal service.

Protect consumers from harm. Ofcom will oversee preparations for the reform of non-geographic telephone numbers, which will bring about clearer phone charges for consumers and free 080 calls from mobile phones in 2015.4 Ofcom also plans to protect consumers from harm in a range of priority areas, including nuisance calls and unexpectedly high bills.

Maintain audience confidence in broadcast content. This will include work with industry and other regulators to develop a consistent approach to media regulation. This common framework would help ensure consumers understand the protections that apply to different types of online content, and know which body to turn to if they have a concern. Work will also progress on the safety of children online, including reports for Government on parental controls and protection measures put in place by internet providers.

Contribute to and implement public policy defined by Parliament. Ofcom has a role in supporting the development of wider public policy in relation to communications matters. As part of this, Ofcom will help ensure that the European Commission's Connected Continent' proposals could be delivered in a way that is consistent with the interests of UK consumers and citizens.

Maintaining value for money

As part of the 2010 Treasury Spending Review, which determined public-sector budgets up to 2014/15, Ofcom has responded to the wider challenges facing public expenditure. It has aimed to deliver effective, targeted regulation in the interests of citizens and consumers - including additional responsibility since 2011 for regulating the postal sector - while maintaining value for money for its stakeholders.

Ofcom is proposing to set a budget for 2014/15 of £117m. This represents no increase on Ofcom's budget for the current financial year, and a 3% real-terms reduction. The proposed budget will allow Ofcom to deliver an overall 28.9% real-terms budgetary reduction compared to 2010/11. This exceeds a commitment to deliver total savings of 28.2% by 2014/15.

In addition to the targeted savings, over the next financial year Ofcom will continue to work with other regulators to share best practice and minimise costs wherever possible.

Next steps

The consultation on Ofcom's draft Annual Plan 2014/15 closes on 14 February 2014. Ofcom is holding public consultation events in early 2014 in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and London.

In March 2014, Ofcom will publish its final Annual Plan, along with details of its budget for the new financial year.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The seven themes are: promote effective competition and informed choice; secure optimal use of spectrum; maintain audience confidence in broadcast content; availability; quality of service; cost and value; and adoption.

The gaining provider led' policy is outlined in this Ofcom news release from August. It applies to fixed telephony, standard and superfast broadband delivered over the Openreach copper network.

See this Ofcom news release from October.

Ofcom published a news release confirming these plans last week.

Under section 3 (1) of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom's principal duty is to further the interests of citizens in relation to communications matters and to further the interests of consumers in relevant markets, where appropriate by promoting competition.

LINK:	http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/12/20/ofcoms-draft-work-programme-for-2...
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