Annual Plan

On 31 March 2010 the Panel commented on the launch of Ofcom's Annual Plan, calling for a broader focus on what consumers expect from the internet. You can read the full comment here.

On 17th February 2010 the Panel responded to Ofcom's consultation on its draft annual plan for 2010/11. This response built on a previous letter from the Panel to Colette Bowe, Chair of the Ofcom Board, in November 2009, which set out our views on what Ofcom should prioritise in 2010/11.

We were pleased to see a number of the issues raised by the Panel included as priorities for 2010/11, including switching, mobile coverage and digital inclusion and participation.

However, we think there are two areas of importance to citizens and consumers that the current draft of the plan does not fully address. These are:

• Consumer expectations of the internet, and
• Consumer decision-making and the role of information.

We have invited Ofcom to consider how it will address these issues in 2010/11.

There are also a number of areas in the draft annual plan where the Panel would like to see further information or clarification. These include:

• Assurance that Ofcom will not undertake any simplification of regulation that would compromise the interests of citizens and consumers;
• Further exploration of the impact of competition on different areas across the UK;
• More detail on prioritisation of work areas and allocation of resources; and
• A more explicit description of the citizen and consumer objectives for the competition, and infrastructure and spectrum work areas.

A copy of our consultation response is available to download from our website at the link below.

Panel's response to Ofcom's annual plan consultation 2010/11.

You can also read the full version of the Panel's letter and Ofcom's response.