APPENDIX 28
Memorandum submitted by Public Voice
I am writing on behalf of Public Voice, the
voluntary sector campaign to ensure that communications reform
is in the public interest. Public Voice was established to support,
defend and protect public service broadcasting in all its forms
now, and in the future. It represents the interests of voluntary
and community organisations, the causes they serve and their constituents.
Public Voice campaigns to ensure that communications reform is
led by public interest objectives, such as plurality of voice,
impartiality and objectivity in news, diversity and quality of
content, right across the market.
We would like to request the opportunity to
give oral evidence to your inquiry. Public Voice has been very
active in the debate about communications reform to date and we
have produced responses to a number of policy and consultation
documents including: the white paper on communications reform;
the proposals for the BBC's new digital services; Professor Cave's
review of spectrum management; the ITC's proposals on cross promotion
and the Towers Perrin scoping report on OFCOM. We have also submitted
written evidence to your earlier inquiry into the Government's
proposals for communications reform.
We have also actively lobbied for amendments
to the OFCOM bill as it passed through the House of Lords. Copies
of all our position papers should already have been sent to you
but I am happy to provide further copies if you would find this
helpful.
We believe that our evidence on the following
areas would be particularly useful: particularly keen to give
evidence on:
— access to high quality diverse services;
— safeguarding citizens and consumers;
— defining and providing public service
broadcasting;
— development and promotion of digital
broadcasting.
These are all areas on which we have a clear
policy position and where we can represent the views of a wide
range of voluntary and community organisations and the communities
and interests they serve. I attach a copy of our latest briefing
leaflet for background information and hope to hear from you shortly.
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