Community directory

Ofcom (the Office of Communications)

Ofcom (the Office of Communications) is the independent regulator of the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom duties include:
* The promotion of choice, quality and value in electronic communications services, where appropriate by encouraging competition between the providers of those services.

* Ensuring the most efficient use of the radiocommunications spectrum - the airways used for the transmission of all non-military wireless communications of those services.

* Ensuring a wide range of electronic communications services, including broadband, is available across the UK.

* Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio programmes of high quality and wide appeal.

* Maintaining plurality in the media by ensuring a sufficiently broad range of ownership.

* The protection of audiences against offensive or harmful material, unfairness or the infringement of privacy on TV and radio.