21st Apr 2006 07:00
Office of Communications21 April 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OFCOM PUBLISHES DRAFT GUIDELINES ON TECHNICAL PLATFORM SERVICES 21 April 2006 Since 1997, BSkyB has been subject to regulation regarding the terms and chargesfor broadcasters and operators of interactive television seeking to make theircontent available on the BSkyB satellite platform. This regulation of Technical Platform Services (TPS) was established underOfcom's predecessor, Oftel. The pre-existing regulatory regime has now beencarried forward under Section 45 of the Communications Act, which requires Ofcomto ensure that third parties have access to those services on fair, reasonableand non-discriminatory terms. Digital terrestrial and cable digital platformsare not currently subject to this regulation. Oftel last published guidelines onhow it would interpret this regulation in the event of a dispute in 2002. Ofcom believes that these guidelines do not provide sufficient clarity orcertainty for broadcasters. In the absence of transparent guidelines onTechnical Platform Services charging, it is difficult for customers to plan forthe charges to be incurred for the broadcast of their programmes or services onthe BSkyB platform. This is likely to be particularly acute for new providers ornew services. In November 2005 Ofcom consulted on its proposals to revise the guidelines forTechnical Platform Services. The consultation closed in February 2006 and Ofcomhas considered the responses carefully. Ofcom is today publishing a draft explanatory statement and revised guidelineswhich explain how it would in future interpret the regulatory conditions placedon BSkyB to offer Technical Platform Services on fair, reasonable andnon-discriminatory terms. In the interests of regulatory transparency, Ofcom has decided to conduct ashort consultation on the draft explanatory statement and revised guidelines toprovide stakeholders with an additional opportunity to comment on Ofcom'sapproach before the guidelines are published and take effect. The consultation on the draft guidelines and explanatory statement can be foundat: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/tpsguidelines/ Ends. NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UKcommunications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio,telecommunications and wireless communications services. For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk CONTACT Ofcom Media [email protected](+44) (0)20 7981 3033 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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