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Session
X
2006-07
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
Publisher
asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to locate and close down illegal radio stations operating on FM frequencies which might interfere with transmissions to and from aircraft.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to locate and close down illegal radio stations operating on FM frequencies which might interfere with transmissions to and from aircraft.
Asked by
Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Truscott
(Labour)
Answering body
Ofcom
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 June 2007
The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), and I have received the following information from Ed Richards, the chief executive:
Ofcom has a dedicated staff of 70 field officers who investigate and take illegal broadcasters off the air. In 2006, Ofcom undertook 1,085 separate operations against illegal broadcasters. This included seizing transmitters, disconnecting transmitters and aerials, and raids on illegal broadcasters’ studios.
Enforcement is also targeted against owners of premises, advertisers, nightclub events and suppliers of equipment or other services to the illegal station. Ofcom uses specialist solicitors and barristers to secure court convictions against illegal broadcasters. Almost all prosecution cases have resulted in a court appearance for the offenders. In 2006, some 63 people were convicted.
Ofcom's work in tackling the problem of illegal broadcasting is carried out in partnership with other organisations, notably local authorities and the police.
Due to the potential threat of violence from illegal broadcasters, Ofcom's field officers seek support from local police officers while conducting work in the field. Where illegal broadcasters are found on site, they are arrested and taken to the local police station for interview. In the majority of cases, this results in the broadcaster being summoned to court to face charges regarding their criminal activities.
In July 2005, Ofcom staff were contacted by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS), which was experiencing extreme interference to aircraft frequencies, in use, on approach to London. A second complaint received from Air Traffic Control (ATC) at London City Airport, highlighted its difficulties further, when it suggested that it would have to close the airport if the interference became more severe. Passion FM, an illegal broadcaster based in east London, was found to be causing the problem and was removed from the airwaves by Ofcom's investigation staff later the same day.
Subjects
Aviation; Air traffic control; Enforcement; Radio frequencies; Illegal broadcasting
Date
18 June 2007
Reference
3879; 693 c3-4WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the recent suggestion by the European Commission that mobile phone companies are charging United Kingdom customers for services to recoup some of the 3G licence costs.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the recent suggestion by the European Commission that mobile phone companies are charging United Kingdom customers for services to recoup some of the 3G licence costs.
Asked by
Lord Dykes
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Truscott
(Labour)
Answering body
Ofcom
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 December 2006
The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which has been asked to reply. The chief executive officer has responded:
I assume that the noble Lord refers to the press release published by the European Commission on 27 November, and the associated formal response to Ofcom on its proposals to extend charge controls in respect of mobile voice call termination. In its formal response, the Commission was broadly supportive of Ofcom's proposal to extend existing charge controls to 3G voice call termination (and to impose a new four-year control to apply irrespective of whether the call is delivered using a 2G or a 3G network). The Commission expressed some concern, however, about Ofcom's assessment of the cost of spectrum used to deliver such calls and invited Ofcom to reconsider its proposed conclusion. Ofcom is currently considering the views of the Commission and UK stakeholders, and plans to publish a concluding statement in March 2007.
The Government are not aware that the Commission has expressed any views on the broader question of whether it is appropriate for mobile phone companies to recoup some or all of the 3G licence costs through charges for telecoms services.
Subjects
Costs; Fees and charges; Licensing; Mobile phones; 3G
Date
19 December 2006
Reference
680; 687 c279WA
House
House of Lords