Ofcom

Ofcom stands in London as the government-approved regulator for broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and postal services across the United Kingdom. It holds wide-ranging powers to promote competition and protect the public from harmful material. The body was created in 2002 and given full authority the following year under the Communications Act 2003. It replaced five existing regulators including the Independent Television Commission and the Office of Telecommunications. Ofcom took on postal regulation in 2011 and video-on-demand duties in 2016. Its remit has expanded further through the Digital Economy Act 2017 and Online Safety Bill. Ofcom’s work affects millions of people daily through rules that shape television, radio and online content. In 2010 it revoked licences and fined companies £157,250 for breaching broadcasting standards. A 2016 survey helped Ofcom publish a list of about fifty words graded by offensiveness. The regulator also enforces consumer protections such as fixed charges for calls starting with 084, 087 and 09 numbers affecting over 175 million phone lines. Its powers now include minimum broadband speeds and penalties for non-compliance. Visitors to Ofcom’s London office find a modern regulator at the heart of the UK’s communications sector. The building houses teams responsible for television and radio standards, broadband and phone regulation, and online safety. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code sets the rules for what can be shown and when, with strict limits on adult content during daytime hours. The regulator also handles complaints and monitors compliance across the industry. Its decisions shape what people watch, hear and access online every day.