[Media-watch] FW: EDM 299 - Communications Bill

[david Miller]

for info and action

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From: Emma Miller <emma_miller at talk21.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2003 14:17:03 +0000

There is serious concern about the implications of the forthcoming
Communications Bill in terms of a further decline in coverage of
international and environment issues.  Campaigners (including the Third
World and Environment Broadcasting Project (3WE) and Oxfam have already
argued for the Bill to include a requirement for TV companies to cover
'international issues'.  The current draft bill now states that broadcasters
must cover 'matters of international significance or interest.'  Further
amendments are required.  EDM 299 has been tabled to strengthen the 'matters
of international significance clause.'  Please contact your MP at the House
of Commons, Lopndon, SW1A OAA by 14 March, asking them to support the EDM.
You can check whether your MP has already done so
http://edm.ais.uk

EDM 299      
COMMUNICATIONS BILL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COVERAGE
05.12.02
Baldry/Tony
That this House notes that the Government has repeatedly promised to
'protect the interests of citizens and consumers' and has recognised that
the 'two are not the same' within the Communications Bill, but that the Bill
contains no mention of citizens' interests and no duty on the new regulator,
OFCOM, to protect them in relation to the public service broadcasting
requirements which include coverage of international development and
environment issues; calls on the Government to ensure that OFCOM has a clear
general duty to protect and promote the interests of citizens and that a
responsibility to regulate public service broadcasting 'with the purpose of
strengthening it' is placed explicitly with OFCOM's Content Board; and
further calls on the Government to make sure that ITV's remit is
strengthened to ensure that it provides a full range of public service
programming, not just entertainment and news; and to remove any exemption
from penalties for commercial TV channels which fail in their public service
obligations, including coverage of international development and environment
issues.