Challenge to Ofcom over spectrum

BECTU’s president has accused Ofcom of treachery over its plans for the sale of spectrum set to be freed up by digital switchover.

Speaking at a recent Westminster debate, Tony Lennon tackled the industry regulator on its proposals for the sale which currently make little, if any, provision to protect the interests of the consumer and the citizen.

Tony Lennon has called on the regulator to introduce a public interest test into the process to ensure that the public has some protection for the delivery of the services it needs.

“I am stunned that public property is being packaged up and sold off in this way. If Ofcom gets it wrong it will be a massive act of treachery” he explained.

“Effectively what Ofcom is doing is selling it off to the highest bidder. Allowing the people with the biggest cheque-books to decide is not the best way.” he continued.

BECTU has taken part in this Ofcom project - known as the Digitial Dividend Review - since it began in 2006. The union has also been part of an industry campaign intent on ensuring that smaller operators, like those working in studios, theatres and on location continue to retain their access to spectrum.

The campaign also put a large emphasis on persuading the regulator to assign some free spectrum for High Definition services so that HD could be developed as as service available to all. Controversially, the regulator has decided not to allocate any of the spectrum made available by switchover to HD on the digitial terrestrial service Freeview.

Ofcom’s consultation on the auction process itself is set to conclude in March, with publication of the final plan due in July.