Transfer of responsibilities from BIS
DCMS response to public enquiries.
The Prime Minister announced on 21 December 2010 that “…all responsibility for competition and policy issues relating to media, broadcasting, digital and telecoms sectors will be transferred immediately to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.”
On 18 January he announced details of which specific areas of responsibility have been transferred from BIS to DCMS.
Competition and policy issues relating to media, broadcasting, digital and telecoms sectors are now the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport.
This includes:
- merger and competition cases in these sectors
- sponsorship of the telecoms sector, both mobile and fixed
- sponsorship of all content industries, including computer games and publishing
- telecoms policy, including implementation of the EU framework
- broadband policy and delivery (including Broadband Delivery UK)
- internet policy and governance, including implementation of the Digital Economy Act
- spectrum (the airwaves used for transmitting information, including radio, television and mobile phones)
- BT Pension Crown Guarantee
- responsibility for sponsorship of Ofcom (except in relation to postal regulation)
- full responsibility for the Digital TV switchover and Digital Radio Action Plan
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will retain responsibility for postal regulation; sponsorship of telecoms equipment manufacturing and the wider electronics, IT services and software sectors. He will also continue to work with the Cabinet Office as part of the National Cyber-Security Programme.
Ed Vaizey, formerly a joint minister between DCMS and BIS, will now report solely to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. He will continue to work closely with BIS ministers.
We are currently updating our website to reflect these changes. In the meantime you can find out information on the BIS site in the following sections: