For the Federal Office of Communications in Switzerland, also known as OFCOM, see Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
For the executive arm of Communications Authority in Hong Kong, see Office of the Communications Authority.
Office of Communications
Ofcom offices at Riverside House, Bankside, next to Southwark Bridge in London
Abbreviation
Ofcom
Formation
29 December 2003; 20 years ago (29 December 2003)
Type
Statutory corporation
Legal status
Created by Office of Communications Act 2002[1]
Purpose
Regulator and competition authority for broadcasting, postal services, telecommunications and radiocommunications spectrum
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-ranging powers across the television, radio, telecoms and postal sectors. It has a statutory duty to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition and protecting the public from harmful or offensive material.[3][4]
Some of the main areas Ofcom regulates are TV and radio standards, broadband and phones, video-sharing platforms online, the wireless spectrum and postal services.
The regulator was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002 and received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003.[1]
^ ab"Office of Communications Act 2002 – 2002 CHAPTER 11". Office of Public Sector Information. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
^"Maggie Carver appointed Ofcom interim Chair from January". Ofcom. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
^"Your rights – Ofcom". The Liberty Guide to Human Rights. Liberty. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
^Lunt, Peter; Livingstone, Sonia (2007). "Regulating markets in the interest of consumers?: on the changing regime of governance in the financial service and communications sectors.". Governance, consumers and citizens: agency and resistance in contemporary politics(PDF). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 139–161. Retrieved 11 January 2014. Footnote 15.
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications...
numbers are administered by the Office of Communications (Ofcom). For this purpose, Ofcom established a telephone numbering plan, known as the National...
breached Ofcom's standards on several occasions and as of 12 November 2023 was the subject of fourteen investigations into its compliance with Ofcom's due...
licences". Ofcom. 17 August 2022. "UK Radio Licensees - Long Term RSLs". Ofcom. "Radio Broadcasting Updates". Ofcom. 2 November 2022. "Ofcom Technical...
Attraction has been the subject of numerous complaints to Ofcom for its full-frontal nudity, but Ofcom declined to perform an investigation due to the lack...
in December 2018. Ofcom had several inquiries into CGTN going on in September 2019. In March 2021, CGTN was fined £225,000 by Ofcom for bias in its coverage...
January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2016. "EastEnders cleared of breaching Ofcom rules". BBC News. BBC. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015. Kilkelly...
lodged with British broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Under the direction of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom ruled that "the phrase 'yellow Chinkies' had...
available online through RT's websites and social media. The UK media regulator Ofcom has repeatedly found RT to have breached its rules on impartiality and on...
watchdog Ofcom. In 2015, Morgan was criticised by Ofcom for laughing as a guest repeatedly used the word 'fucking' live on air. Although Ofcom did not...
the choice of celebrity accused led to a complaint being registered with Ofcom by Glitter (which was later dismissed). Set in an imaginary Britain in which...
telephone network. The national telephone numbering plan is maintained by Ofcom, an independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications...
The Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed & Designated Events is a series of regulations issued originally by the Independent Television Commission (ITC)...
the consultations are published by Ofcom, and inform the policies that Ofcom creates and enforces. In 2008, Ofcom issued fines to the total of £7.7m....
Neighbour scheme – Statement". Ofcom. Retrieved 12 January 2013. "Ofcom allows Royal Mail's 'delivery to neighbour' scheme". Ofcom. Archived from the original...
to Ofcom. The British "House of Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport" recommended in its report "The Future of the BBC", that OFCOM should...
2023. "Channel 4 Licence". Ofcom. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. "Channel 4 Broadcasting Licence" (PDF). Ofcom. 4 October 2006. pp. Appendix...
28 September 2023. Ofcom Archived 8 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC Hereford & Worcester licence - Retrieved 7 May 2020; Ofcom Archived 8 May 2020...
UK enterprise law case, concerning telecommunications. EE claimed that Ofcom’s decision to set licence fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands of radio spectrum...
a complaint with Ofcom claiming that Project Canvas is anti-competitive. On 18 August 2010, IP Vision formally complained to Ofcom, calling on the regulator...
Guildford" (PDF). Ofcom. Retrieved 18 January 2015. "Ofcom awards Leeds local TV licence". Ofcom. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013. "Ofcom awards Liverpool...
DAB in Leeds on the Leeds Digital Media multiplex. "Ofcom | Community Radio Stations". static.ofcom.org.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2021. "New radio station...
the Cash, Vegas 247, and Live Roulette. Eventually, in February 2010, an Ofcom Sanctions Committee ruled against Friendly TV and related broadcasters,...
Global Information
