News story

Media, broadcasting, digital and telecoms transfers from BIS to DCMS

The Prime Minister has announced details of which specific areas of responsibility have been transferred from BIS to DCMS.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

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 relating to the media, broadcasting, digital and telecoms 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.
  • 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.

Business Secretary Vince Cable 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 review information on the BIS website:

Links

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Published 18 January 2011