media regulations

All Media within the UK has to be regulated and monitored before it is released, this is done by a regulatory body. One particular body is Ofcom, the Office of Communication, which regulates the communications of the television and radio sectors within the industry. This also includes fixed line telecoms and for mobiles including the airwaves over the wireless devices operate. Ofcom are an independent organisation where rules are set to ensure a fair competition is maintained between the companies in the media. The idea of this body is to protect the residents in the UK from any scams occurring at the time, gaining the best from their communications services but making sure the competition can still succeed. The organisation gets it’s funding from the fees of the industry such as the regulating broadcasting and communications networks and also grant-in-aid which comes from the government. Ofcom have other responsibilities that they have authority over which include: creating codes and policies, licensing, research, looking into competition and addressing complaints. It has a reputation to issue a large number of consultations. Ofcom are independent of the UK government where the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund them. However Ofcom answer to the UK Parliament. The body works under the Communications Act 2003 where the detailed Act of Parliament deciphers what Ofcom has to do to ensure they are following their main legal duties. Set out in the UK from 2003 they have to guarantee:
Anyone who listens to either the radio or television has to be protected from harmful material which could cause offence
The radio spectrum, which includes, airwaves used by taxi firms to mobile companies is used in the most effective way
People are protected from having their privacy invaded
People are ensured not to be treated unfairly whilst in television or radio programmes A varied range of high-quality radio and