About Ofcom

Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK with responsibility for the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, and the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

Ofcom is accountable to Parliament and operates in particular under the 2003 Communications Act, which says that Ofcom’s principal duty is to further the interests of citizens and of consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition. Ofcom has a Board with a Chairman (Dame Patricia Hodgson DBE) and both executive and non-executive members. The Chief Executive of Ofcom is Sharon White. 

The work of both Board and Executive is informed by the contributions of a number of advisory bodies, including advisory committees in each of the United Kingdom’s nations. 

Ofcom’s main legal duties are to ensure:

• the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband;
• a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests;
• television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations;
• people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material;
• people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded;
• a universal postal service is provided in the UK - this means a six days a week, universally priced delivery and collection service across the country; and
• the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

Click here to view Ofcom’s most recent Annual Report. More information on Ofcom’s structure and duties is available on the website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/.