The study is backed by the five regulators that will be merged to form Ofcom and spells out the benefits of the new single regulator, as well as the criteria for its success and a proposed organisational structure.
This study is the result of a collaboration between the five organisations concerned, which are the Broadcasting Standards Commission;
the Independent Television Commission; Office of Telecommunications (Oftel); the Radio Authority; and the Radiocommunications Agency.
There is little mention of the BBC in the report and no indication whether the five regulators are pushing to have control over the BBC. The only mention the report does make of the BBC is that BBC Radio should come under the control of Ofcom.
The Towers Perrin report identified nine clear benefits of a single organistion -- the most important benefits included: an ability to develop and work within a single strategic policy framework; a capability to be highly responsive; clear accountability; and a simpler, more streamlined "one-stop shop".
The other benefits identified were the capacity to deploy resources flexibly; economies of scale; the removal of a small amount of duplication; shared sector-wide programmes of research; market analysis and stakeholder involvement; and a clear and coordinated public profile.
The five chief executives have given their unanimous support to the document and have pledged to continue to work closely together in preparing for Ofcom.
The scoping study is an assessment of the kind of organisation the super-watchdog needs to be and how its various functions might be organised.
In a joint statement, Paul Bolt (BSC), David Edmonds (Oftel), David Hendon (Radiocommunications Agency), Patricia Hodgson (ITC) and Tony Stoller (Radio Authority), said, "We hope that our preparation -- as represented both by this report and by the further work planned for the months ahead -- will lay the foundations for the board's work. We are not determining the final structure, but want to make it as easy as we can for the new board to handle the very demanding agenda it will face if the government's target date is to be met."
They added, "There is a great deal of public interest in Ofcom as an organisation and especially its quality of expertise, value for money, resource needs, division into different areas and methods for linking with stakeholders of all kinds."
The report identified seven criteria that Ofcom will need to satisfy as an organisation in order to deliver its unique purpose.
These were: effective and credible public policy solutions; delivery of customers' needs; universal strategic framework; professionalism in project management; flexibility and subsidiarity; strong links with stakeholders; and transparency and accountability.
In addition, it proposed a radio group to ensure the integration of broadcast radio regulation across the five main operating units.
To read the report in full, follow the link on the right.
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