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Reforming consumer representation in UK communications

Tambini, Damian (2011) Reforming consumer representation in UK communications. LSE Media Policy Project Series, Broughton Micova, Sally, Sujon, Zoetanya and Tambini, Damian (eds.) (Media Policy Brief 4). Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

Communications consumers in the UK do not switch provider enough, and when they do they sometimes do so irrationally. As the government conducts a welcome review of the landscape of consumer representation in the UK, they should be aware that there is an ongoing, permanent need for consumer representation that is specific to the communications sector. The government’s proposals, by shifting consumer advocacy to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, are likely to result in an increase in costs to the public purse. Within the current model Ofcom and its consumer panel receive almost half their funding from the private sector. If the body is moved to Citizens Advice, the proportion met by public funding will be higher. The fast changing, technical complexity of the communications sector makes a consumer representative particularly important. Consumer advocacy in communications will be most efficient if it is within Ofcom, but has much more effective operational independence from it.

Item Type: Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/
Additional Information: © 2011 The Authors, LSE Media Policy Project
Divisions: Media and Communications
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain
Date Deposited: 04 Oct 2011 15:35
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2023 23:24
Projects: LSE Media Policy Project
Funders: Higher Education Innovation Fund 4, Open Society Foundation
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/38616

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