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Beware of the dog! Ofcom starts to take shape
Please get it right, cry several different industries...

By editorial@silicon.com

Published: Thursday 25 July 2002

There has already been some dismay that the head of uber-regulator Ofcom - which should come into being in about 18 months - won't be a telecoms or internet specialist.

This is understandable. Most people in the IT and communications industry feel officials who truly understand their concerns are already few and far between, and a move towards a catch-all organisation might be a bad thing.

The chosen one, Lord Currie of Marylebone, knows financial services and knows regulation, having served at Ofgem before, but we doubt he is an expert on local loop unbundling or 3G spectrum usage.

In what is assumed is a swiftly put together statement, networking veteran and entrepreneur Bob Jones today pointed out a broad regulatory body inevitably means those at its top will have less chance of knowing a certain part of the media or communications inside out.

This is true. silicon.com certainly hopes Lord Currie can learn quickly and delegate well for the money he'll be paid and we must be on guard to make sure telecoms doesn't lose out post-Oftel.

Although there are problems with a new, over-arching regulator the move is necessary. It is increasingly hard to tell apart certain aspects of the telecoms, technology and media industries, leaving existing watchdogs at worst hamstrung over certain issues or at best stepping on each other's toes.

But the real danger is one of a bold new start that is compromised. Many thought current Oftel director general Dave Edmonds was in with a chance of heading the new body. Don't count out his involvement. What we don't want to end up with is a bloated new organisation - remember, it should make things simpler - that then decides to create divisional heads.

As we see the ITC, Oftel et al disappear, let's hope we're not faced with a situation in three years where a fat Ofcom decides to split responsibility among the same civil servants who did the same jobs in the same way at what would be the ITC, Oftel et al in all but name.

For related news, see
Top post at Ofcom awarded
http://www.silicon.com/a54793
Ofcom and the comms bill: Your chance to shape the law
http://www.silicon.com/a53569
Ofcom: Meet the super-regulator
http://www.silicon.com/a53166
BBC escapes the clutches of Ofcom
http://www.silicon.com/a48144