Telecommunications

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on telecommunications. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
26.02.2013	4G spectrum
	Ofcom is proceeding with plans to auction radio spectrum needed for 4G mobile devices. One related issue is the potential for interference with TV reception.
17.01.2013	Nuisance Calls: Unsolicited sales and marketing, and silent calls
	Nuisance calls (i.e. unsolicited - and unwanted - marketing messages, silent or abandoned calls) cause widespread harm and inconvenience which have been acknowledged by the previous and current Government and the relevant regulators. This note sets out the key regulations which seek to address nuisance calls and the main sources of assistance and their limitations.
08.06.2012	0845 numbers
	The use of non-geographic telephone numbers, such as those beginning 0845, has been controversial - particularly in the context of the delivery of public services by bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs.
11.05.2012	Use of non-geographic telephone numbers (e.g. 0845) by the NHS and GPs' practices
	Under current rules, NHS bodies and GPs' practices are not prohibited from using non-geographic phone numbers, such as 0845 numbers, although the Department of Health has issued guidance about their use.
24.04.2012	Telecoms masts - planning
	This note covers planning issues relating to telecom masts (often for mobile phones) not safety issues

Research Papers

Date	Description
29.03.2010	Digital Economy Bill [HL]
	The Bill implements aspects of Government policy on digital media set out in the 'Digital Britain' White Paper published in June 2009. It requires Ofcom to report on communications infrastructure and media content and gives it additional powers in relation to electromagnetic spectrum access. It imposes obligations on internet service providers to reduce online copyright infringement and allows the Secretary of State to intervene in internet domain name registration. The Bill requires Channel Four to provide public service content on a range of media and allows variation of the public service provision in Channel 3 and 5 licences. It also modifies the licensing regime to facilitate switchover to digital radio, extends the range of video games that are subject to age-related classification and includes non-print formats in the public lending right payment scheme.
26.11.2002	Telecommunications and the Communications Bill (Bill 6 2002/03)
	Telecommunications and The Communications Bill (Bill 6 of 2002/03). House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/67.
11.12.2001	Mobile phones and mobile phone masts
	Mobile phones and mobile phone masts. House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/111.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
01.02.2011	OFCOM: the effectiveness of converged regulation.
	Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
04.03.2009	Mobile phone charges in the EU: Follow up report.
	European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
26.01.2012	DATA SECURITY ON MOBILE PHONES
	That this House is concerned at reports in the Daily Mail that millions of mobile phone users may have been exposed to internet scams after their numbers were inadvertently sent to ...
10.01.2012	HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS CONTACT CENTRE TRIAL OF PRIVATE CONTRACTORS
	That this House congratulates staff working in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) contact centres on increasing the positive answering rate to 71 per cent. of calls to date in 2011-12; notes ...
15.12.2011	MASTERS DEGREE IN SIGN LANGUAGE
	That this House congratulates Heriot-Watt University on becoming the first in Scotland to offer a full-time MA in British Sign Language (BSL); notes with concern that there are only ...
15.11.2011	PROPOSED CLOSURE OF VIRGIN MEDIA LIVERPOOL OFFICES
	That this House is concerned that Virgin Media is proposing to close itsLiverpool offices in Albert Dock with the loss of over 400 jobs; notes that Virgin's aim is to reduce office ...
07.11.2011	DEVOLUTION OF BROADCASTING TO THE WELSH ASSEMBLY
	That this House believes that, given the handling of the issue of S4C during the passage of the Public Bodies Bill, particularly the lack of opportunity for the overwhelming majority ...

POST Papers

Date	Description
17.12.2012	Machine to Machine Communication
	Machine to machine (M2M) communication will allow the connection of billions of 'smart' devices and enable new ways of living and working. This note examines the potential of M2M, the common infrastructure that underlies many applications and the technological barriers to implementation.
22.09.2011	Cyber Security in the UK
	Cyber security refers to defences against electronic attacks launched via computer systems. This POSTnote looks at approaches to cyber security in the context of large-scale attacks, with a focus on national infrastructure.
01.03.2010	Space debris, March 2010
	This POSTnote looks at measures to protect satellites from debris and international agreements and guidelines to reduce the amount of debris generated.
01.01.2010	Rare earth metals, January 2011
	This POSTnote examines the debate on future supplies of a group of elements known as the Rare Earth Metals which have become a highly sought-after resource for high-technology and low carbon industries and discusses the UK and international response.
01.04.2008	Next generation broadband access, April 2008
	This POSTnote examines next generation access (NGA) technologies, demand for them and deployments worldwide. It looks at the debate over who should invest in NGA and when, and considers policy issues such as international competitiveness and geographical variations.
01.12.2007	Next generation telecoms networks, December 2007
	Next generation telecoms networks, December 2007. POSTnote 07/296.