Consultations and statements

The Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) sector relies on radio spectrum for wireless applications that are used in the production and staging of a wide range of live and broadcast entertainment events.

We have decided to introduce a new UAS Operator Radio licence to authorise the use of radio equipment on drones.

Ofcom is seeking views on its proposals to make the 1900–1920 MHz (“1900 MHz”) band available for the UK’s rail network and the emergency services.

Ofcom has a duty to secure the wide availability of TV and radio services throughout the UK and to help us carry this out, we grant broadcasting licences with specific licence conditions attached. We enforce these licence conditions in line with our published General Procedures, which were last updated in April 2017. Since then, there have been developments in the types of broadcasters we regulate, changes in our approach to regulation, and an increase in our caseload. In this context, we are now reviewing our General Procedures to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Ofcom has given its consent to the BBC and ITV for consent to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the Men’s Six Nations Rugby Union Championships in 2025.

Our consultation contains proposals for revised Annual Licence Fees for 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz spectrum.

We have issued a statement on guidance to help services, and other stakeholders, to understand when and how we might use these powers.

Ofcom is consulting on draft Guidance for a safer life online for women and girls. The consultation is aimed at providers of regulated online services and other relevant stakeholders including Ofcom’s statutory consultees for the draft Guidance - the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

This is the first of Ofcom’s policy Statements that Ofcom, as regulator of the Online Safety Act, will publish as part of our work to establish the new regulations.

This consultation seeks views on a request to change the area to be served by the Stirling & Falkirk small-scale radio multiplex service. A radio multiplex service is the means by which DAB digital radio stations are broadcast.

Ofcom is seeking views on its proposals for making the 1492-1517 MHz frequency block within the 1.4 GHz band available for mobile use.

In this consultation we set out our proposed approach to authorising Wi-Fi and mobile services in the 6 GHz band. This includes a proposal to authorise standard power Wi-Fi in Lower 6 GHz under the control of an AFC database (subject to industry demand), and a proposal to authorise low power indoor Wi-Fi in Upper 6 GHz, with mobile coming into the Upper 6 GHz band at a later stage.

The public service broadcasters (‘PSBs’) hold a unique place in UK society. Their role includes providing a wide range of informative and entertaining programmes that reflect the diversity of the nations and regions of the UK and are freely available to all.

In this consultation, we welcome input on our proposed framework and the methods we intend to apply when deciding whether to designate an IPS. We also seek views on our proposed processes for IPS providers to follow when applying for designation, and for Ofcom to revoke designation.

We are proposing to apply the electronic communications code set out in Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003 to Rocket Fibre Limited.

talkSPORT is seeking Ofcom’s permission to switch off seven transmitter sites which would reduce the coverage of its AM national commercial radio licence from 92.0% of the UK adult population to 88.9%.

In this consultation, we are proposing to update our existing resilience guidance to provide greater clarity on how providers of public electronic communications networks and services can comply with their security duties under a new framework for security and resilience that came into force in October 2022.

Ofcom is consulting on proposals to implement the fees and penalties regime for online safety, under the Online Safety Act 2023. The consultation is aimed at providers of regulated online services and other relevant stakeholders.

A consultation on the principles and methods we propose to use in making recommendations to the Secretary of State for designating radio selection services.

Non-geostationary orbiting (NGSO) satellite systems are a way of delivering broadband services from space using a constellation of satellites in a low or medium Earth orbit. These satellite systems have the potential to deliver higher speeds and lower latency services.

Improving spectrum access for satellite gateways, land-based satellite terminals and fixed links.

Following extensive engagement with stakeholders and consumer research, we are proposing a package of reforms to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) on Royal Mail and corresponding changes to Royal Mail’s obligation to provide access to its letter network.

Application-to-Person Short Message Service (A2P SMS) is the most common form of business messaging service. It enables businesses and public sector organisations to send text messages in bulk to customers and the wider public.

Our Northern Ireland Equality Scheme has been revised and updated periodically, most recently in 2019. We have now conducted a 5-year review of our scheme and are consulting on the changes we propose to make.

In response to the Media Act’s new transparency measure, we are further proposing to make provision in our Guidance to ensure that independent producers are aware of the PSB’s Code ahead of negotiating a commissioning contract with that PSB.

As part of our aim to improve spectrum access and efficiency, this document puts forward an additional option to change the 3.9 GHz licence by modifying its permitted frequencies, further to a consultation earlier in the year.

We are proposing to apply the electronic communications code set out in Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003 to Shire Fibre Limited.