Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom offices at Riverside House, Bankside, next to Southwark Bridge in London | |
| Abbreviation | Ofcom |
|---|---|
| Formation | 29 December 2003 |
| Type | Statutory corporation |
| Legal status | Created by Office of Communications Act 2002 |
| Purpose | Regulator and competition authority for broadcasting, postal services, telecommunications and radiocommunications spectrum |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Location | |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Official language | English, Welsh |
Chairman | Michael Grade |
Chief Executive | Melanie Dawes |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
Staff (2019) | 902 (full-time equivalents) |
| Website | ofcom |
Ofcom has wide-ranging powers across the television, radio, telecoms and postal sectors. It has a statutory duty to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition and protecting the public from harmful or offensive material.
Some of the main areas Ofcom regulates are TV and radio standards, broadband and phones, video-sharing platforms online, the wireless spectrum and postal services.
The regulator was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002 and received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003.