Ofcom Threatens Tighter Regulation Of Internet Industry

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

23 February 2004

Speaking in London last week at the annual UK ISP awards, or ISPAs, Richard Hooper, deputy chairman of Ofcom, the new telecommunications 'super-regulator', warned the internet industry of tighter regulation to come if it does not clean up its act.

Speaking with regard to conerns such as spam, improper content and piracy, Mr Hooper suggested that:

"If you do not regulate yourselves, then the danger is that the political and public opinion machines will come down the turnpike at you. Don't underestimate the power of these bodies."

Mr Hooper also reportedly issued a warning to BT on its lack of progress in local loop unbundling (whereby incumbent providers are obliged to open up their local exchanges to their competitors, and offer wholesale broadband prices).

According to ZDNet UK, he announced that:

"We will do our very best to ensure there is fair and effective competition in broadband retail and wholesale. We have not forgotten local-loop unbundling."

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