A fast track Communications Act?
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 5:53pm
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A FEW weeks ago, I led a Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd regarding the Communications Review that has been initiated by Jeremy Hunt MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and I specifically called on the Welsh Government to respond to the review. Hunt had written an open letter, asking people to send initial comments about what they would like to see in any new Communications Act. There was a clear focus was on deregulation, and an expansion of digital media, while Plaid Cymru focused on any possible implications the new Act could have for regional commissioning, and on the future of broadcasting in Wales.
Here is the debate if you want to look at what was said in the Senedd.
What is interesting in light of the Murdoch phone hacking scandal is that the Communications Act could be brought forward as a consequence. The Act was supposed to come in to play in 2015, but some are now saying this is too late in light of the urgency of the matter.
Some MPs are now calling for new regulation to be introduced at an earlier date. The future of cross media ownership is of course an integral part of any new Communications Act, ensuring that the system is open and accountable so that no one person, family or organisation can dominate the media again as the Murdoch’s have done for so long, without proper scrutiny.
However, those in the independent creative industries have been a little more cautious, with Pact chief executive John McVay saying that it was not easy to speed up such a complex piece of legislation.
“If the government is going to accelerate anything on the Comms Act, I would simply urge them to concentrate on what isn’t working and leave alone the things that are. Clearly there is a desire to do something post-fallout, but we don’t want them to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
The DCMS has said it would make a decision on timing regarding the Communications Act when the judicial inquiry into phone hacking is more advanced. I think at this stage that it depends on what the inquiry suggests as actions for the way forward. But what this Act could present Wales with is an opportunity to provide the legislative landscape for its own, distinctive media. As we have seen with Media Wales, we are fast approaching a crucial period in the history of our media and if this act doesn’t get it right, we could be left with a shadow of what we have now, which many complain isn’t good enough as it is.
If we rush into any new legislation, Wales may miss a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put in place something that will benefit the country as a whole. As such, we need time to get our response right. I am hoping that the task and finish group on the Welsh media that will start in September as part of an enquiry by the Equalities and Local Government committee which I sit on in the National Assembly will begin this process. Little good comes of rushing through legislation on a kneejerk, and while we have all been appalled by what has happened at News International, a far more measured response will provide a better solution there, as well as a robust Welsh media that is equipped for the 21st Century.
