Communications Bill On Hold This Year

The Queen’s speech today will unveil over 20 bills for the first legislative programme of Labour’s second term, but the Communications Bill will not be among them, with a focus on reform issues such as health, education and crime being favoured. However, a bill setting up the “super-regulator” OFCOM will be included for this period.

The go ahead for OFCOM will go some way to appease media owners who are concerned at Rupert Murdoch’s power in the market. However, the delay of the main Communications bill will mean a delay to rule relaxation which could pave the way to a single ITV and the streamlining of radio ownership. It is believed that problems in agreeing on the new cross-media ownership rules necessitated by emerging technologies have caused the hold up.

The publication of the Communications White Paper in anticipation of the bill last December (see White Paper Paves Way For Communications “Revolution”) was overseen by the then Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith. His departure from the post in favour of Tessa Jowell earlier this month (see Smith Replaced By Jowell Following Labour Landslide), is thought unlikely to help speed its progression through parliament as the new minister must now catch up with the numerous issues of her office

DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk

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