It was announced today that Philip Rutnam has given notice that he will resign from the Ofcom Board, when he leaves the organisation in March 2009, to become Director General for Business and Enterprise at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

Mr Rutnam has worked at Ofcom since it was established in 2003 and is currently Partner, Spectrum Policy. He joined the Board in March 2007.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/12/nr_20081219a

Ofcom today published a consolidation version of the BT Undertakings that includes all variations agreed to date. The consolidated version of the Undertakings includes variation 18 that removes redundant text.

The consolidated version of the undertakings can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/btundertakings/consolidated.pdf

Variation 18 and explanatory note can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/btundertakings/exemptionsandvariations/variation18.pdf

Ofcom today published guidance for communications providers on how it thinks the law applies to the extra charges consumers may have to pay on top of their usual bill.

Ofcom wants to help protect consumers from unfair charges that are often hidden in the small print.

These additional charges are generally for paying by cash or cheque (rather than by direct debit), receiving an itemised or paper bill, paying late (or not at all); or leaving a provider before a contract has ended.

Ofcom has also published a consumer guide, offering advice to consumers on the type of charges to look for before signing up with a new communications provider.

The full news release can be found here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/12/nr_20081219

The statement and guidance for communications providers can be found here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/addcharges/statement/

A guide for consumers on additional charges can be found here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/addcharges.pdf

Ofcom has appointed one new member, Liz Atkins, to its Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People.

The full news release can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/12/nr_20081218a

It was announced today by the Government that Colette Bowe has been choen to replace David Currie as Chairman of Ofcom.

Dr Bowe trained as an economist and has held a number of senior roles in the public and private sectors. She began her career as an economist at the Department of Trade and Industry and subsequently worked at the Independent Broadcasting Authority, the Securities and Investment Board, as Chief Executive of the Personal Investment Authority and as Executive Chairman of the Fleming Funds Management. She was the founding chairman of the Telecoms Ombudsman Council and chaired Ofcom’s Consumer Panel from its inception in 2003 to December 2007.

Dr Bowe is currently a Board Member of Axa Framlington, Morgan Stanley Bank International, Electra Private Equity plc and London and Continental Railways; she is also Chairman of Council at Queen Mary College, London, and a Board member of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research. She has been a member of the Ofcom Board since January 2008 and is a member of the Ofcom Audit Committee.

Commenting on the announcement, David Currie said “I am delighted that the Government has asked Colette to take on this role. She brings an impressive set of skills and highly valuable experience to an organisation that has a very important agenda ahead. I am sure she will do an excellent job at Ofcom.”

Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards also welcomed the announcement and said “This is excellent news for Ofcom and for UK consumers and citizens whom we serve. I very much look forward to working with the new Chairman in the New Year.”

The Government today invited the Business and Culture, Media and Sport  Select Committees to hold a public scrutiny hearing with Dr Bowe, in line with Parliamentary procedures for public appointment.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Government’s announcement can be found here: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/berr/

2. Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

3. For further information about Ofcom please visit: www.ofcom.org.uk. Ofcom’s news releases can be found at: www.ofcom.org.uk/media/

Ofcom today published a quarterly update on its Annual Plan programme of work for 2008/9. The work programme can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/accoun/reports_plans/annual_plan0809/updated_projects/

Ofcom has today published its Simplification Plan which demonstrates Ofcom’s commitment to minimising burdens on stakeholders. It reports on the work that we have done over the last year to remove and avoid unnecessary burdens and on the work that is ongoing or planned for the year ahead.

The statement can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/accoun/simpl08/