AA Takes Issue With Communications Bill Proposals
The Advertising Association (AA) has welcomed the publication of this week’s draft Communications Bill as a “complex and wide-ranging” piece of legislation, but has taken issue with the proposals on advertising content regulation.
The Government is urging the advertising and broadcasting industry to come up with concrete proposals for a more co-regulatory regime for monitoring advertising content. However, the AA is unconvinced that the Government’s ideas of co-regulation are compatible with those of the industry.
The AA’s director of public affairs, Sara Soltani, said: “The Government appears to believe that co-regulation is simply a mechanism for transferring regulatory costs to industry, but without any corresponding transfer of authority.”
She added: “We are also confused that the Secretary of State refers to greater self-regulation; the policy documents refer to the possibility of increased co-regulation and the Bill itself appears to preclude the possibility of either.”
The AA has also said that the Government’s proposal for a Consumer Panel to focus on network and content issues will “not be welcome” unless it adds to the work already being done by broadcasters, and has expressed disappointment that the BBC will not be more brought more comprehensively within the scope of OFCOM.
The Association plans to raise these issues with the Government during the coming consultation period and says that “it looks forward to a rigorous and productive debate.”
Meanwhile, the two Houses of Parliament have established a Joint Committee on the draft Communications Bill to consider reactions to the proposed legislation. The Committee, which is to be chaired by Lord Puttnam, will hold hearings on the Bill and will publish a report, to which the Government must respond.
Advertising Association: 020 828 2771 www.adassoc.org.uk
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