The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the UK’s broadcasting, telecommunications and postal regulatory body. It became the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s first external regulator in 2017.
The principal functions of Ofcom in relation to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ are to:
- Prepare and publish an containing the provisions it considers appropriate to secure the effective regulation of the activities of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
- Set an operating licence for the UK Public Services containing the regulatory conditions it considers appropriate for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to deliver its mission and public purposes
- Determine appropriate measures to assess the performance of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s UK Public Services
- Set requirements to protect fair and effective competition in relation to material changes to UK Public Service and non-service activities
- Set requirements in relation to the interaction between the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and its commercial activities to ensure that the commercial activities do not, as a result of their relationship with the UK Public Services, trading activities or non-service activities, distort the market or gain an unfair competitive advantage
- Regulate the content standards of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s television, radio and on-demand programmes, in accordance with Ofcom’s Standards and fairness codes.
Ofcom will publish an annual report which will set out how it has carried out its functions as the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s independent regulator, and assesses the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s compliance with the requirements of the Operating Framework, Operating Licence and associated documents.
Further information about Ofcom and how it regulates the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ can be found on .