OFCOM

6 facts about OFCOM:

1) OFCOM make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can thrive.


2) OFCOM has a duty under the Communications Act to ensure that spectrum is used 
effectively and optimally. Its objective is to secure the maximum benefit for citizen-consumers, industry and the wider economy.


3) OFCOM stands for the Office of Communications


4) OFCOM has wide-ranging powers across the television, radio, telecoms and postal sectors. It has a duty to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition and protecting the public from harmful or offensive material.

5) OFCOM's rules for television and radio programmes are set out in the broadcasting code. The rules in the Broadcasting Code also apply to the BBC iPlayer.

This code is the rule book that broadcasters have to follow and it covers a number of areas, including:

• protecting the under-eighteens
• harm and offence 
• crime, disorder, hatred and abuse
• religion
• news and current affairs
• elections and referendums
• fairness
• privacy
• references to brands on television
• references to brands on radio

6) OFCOM is funded by fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and grant-in-aid from the Government.

ASA - advertising standards authority: independent bodies which deals with complaints relating to the advertising industry

CAP - committee for advertising practice: contracted by ofcom to maintain the cows of practise for television advertising