History
In 1972, the Independent Broadcasting Authority was created and given responsibility for regulating independent television and radio services in the UK. Over time, the demand for local services increased, and finally prompted an Act of Parliament to deregulate the respective industries and facilitate new long-term and short-term broadcast licences. In 1990, the Broadcasting Act (1990) became law, and led to the establishment of two licencing authorities: the Radio Authority to licence new radio services and monitor existing licences, and the Independent Television Commission, to licence new short-term television services. While the 1990 act proved successful, licencing procedures to this day remain restrictive compared to those in other countries.
In 2004, the Radio Authority and ITC were folded into the Office of Communications. Today Ofcom handles all licencing for frequencies used by television and radio services, except short-range broadcasts and wireless links, which are licenced by JFMG (Joint Frequency Management Group).
Read more about this topic: Restricted Service Licence
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)
“What would we not give for some great poem to read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery,—for if men read aright, methinks they would never read anything but poems. No history nor philosophy can supply their place.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Man watches his history on the screen with apathy and an occasional passing flicker of horror or indignation.”
—Conor Cruise O’Brien (b. 1917)