K E R A L A M O N I T O R . C O M N E W S B U R E A U

"Your BBC, your say" - Jowell launches biggest ever public debate on the future of the BBC

India Kuwait Extradition Treaty Ratified More

Britain Introduces Spam Law to control unsolicited mail

LONDON Dec 11: New rules to tackle 'spam' e-mails and give phone, fax and internet
users more say over how their personal details are used come into
force today. The rules, which apply the EU Directive on Privacy and
Electronic Communication in the UK will mean that from today:

- Companies or individuals will not be able to send unsolicited
commercial e-mails or text messages to individual subscribers
unless the recipient has agreed in advance to receive them. There
is an exception where businesses have established relationships
with their customers.

- Corporate subscribers are exempt from this rule, which means that
much business-to-business e-marketing is not affected. However all
direct marketing e-mails, regardless of who they are sent to, will
be required to include proper sender and contact details.

- Companies using tracking devices, such as 'cookies' on their
websites will have to tell users they are doing so and provide an
opportunity to reject them.

- Mobile network operators will be able to provide advertising and
subscription services such as traffic information based on personal
data, as long as they give subscribers information about this sort
of data processing and obtain their consent.

- Subscribers will have legal rights about being listed in
directories, and directory providers will have to give them full
information and a reinforced chance to be 'ex-directory'.

Communications Minister Stephen Timms said:

"The Office of the Information Commissioner, an independent authority
that reports directly to parliament will enforce the regulations.

"Breach of enforcement orders issued by the Information Commissioner
is a criminal offence liable to a fine of up to £5,000 in a
magistrate's court, or an unlimited fine if the trial is before jury.
Anyone who has suffered damages because the regulations have been
breached has the right to sue the person responsible for
compensation".

The Government is reviewing the enforcement and investigation powers
available to the Information Commissioner.

UK business making better use of I.T

Dec 11: A report commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry
revealing how businesses around the world are using Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) is published today.

The report, used to update government on the level of ICT use, shows
that UK businesses are using ICT more effectively.

The International Benchmarking Study shows that:

- UK business sees ICT as a vehicle for delivering value, but that is
dependent on how it is used.

- Business has moved on from acquiring ICT to learning how to use it
more effectively.

- Use of broadband is growing and more businesses in the UK are
choosing to trade on-line and use ICT in more areas of business.

- UK business is engaged in regular and focused ICT training. -Keralamonitor.com

Media Monitor

"Your BBC, your say" - Jowell launches biggest ever public debate on the future of the BBC

Dec 11: Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today launched the biggest ever public
debate on the future of the BBC.

Launching the consultation, she stressed the importance of the BBC to
both the world of broadcasting and the wider public - in particular
she said it set a "gold standard" in its news coverage that people
trusted.

The public consultation, which will give people the chance to put
their views directly to Ministers at meetings across the UK, is the
first stage in the review of the BBC's Royal Charter - a document
that shapes the corporation, setting out its general aims and
functions. The Charter is up for review by 1 January 2007.

And she said that the unique challenge of this Charter Review is that
it is taking place at a time of rapid technological change - nearly
50% of homes now have access to digital TV.

Tessa Jowell said:

"Rapid change means that we must consider how the BBC should be
adapted for the future. The one certain outcome of the review will be
a strong BBC, with the courage to be editorially autonomous and
independent from Government.

"Previous Charter Reviews have been conducted in a range of ways. By
the great and the good. By Ministers and civil servants.

"But this review will be different. For the first time the driving
force will be the British people. Through the licence fee, they are
in effect the BBC's shareholders."

A consultation document - The Review of the BBC's Royal Charter - was
published today to kick-start the first stage of the review

It sets out a list of key questions to prompt discussion about the
BBC's role, structure and function. They are:

- What do you value most about the BBC?

- How should the BBC adapt to cope with changes in technology and
culture?

- What do you think of the television, radio and online services the
BBC provides?

- Should the BBC run commercial services?

- How should we pay for the BBC?

- Is the BBC organised in the most effective and efficient way?

- How should the BBC be governed and regulated?

- How do we ensure that the BBC is properly accountable to the public
and Parliament?

Members of the public and other stakeholders are being invited to
send in their views on these issues, and any others, to the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport by e-mail or post.

The consultation will be accompanied by a programme of direct
engagement with the public, through survey research and public
meetings, details of which will be announced shortly.

To help stimulate debate, an information leaflet, entitled Your BBC,
Your Say, will be available in public libraries and a dedicated
website giving further information is being launched today.

The second stage of the review, expected to begin around the end of
2004, will bring together the results of the consultation and the
conclusions of other reviews - including Ofcom's review of public
service television, the review of BBC online and forthcoming reviews
of the BBC's new services - into a Green Paper. This will be
published for further consultation.

A White Paper will follow, with another round of consultation.
Charter Review will be concluded with an opportunity for both Houses
of Parliament to contribute their views.

Tessa Jowell said that an independent advisory panel would be
appointed in the New Year, chaired by Terry Burns, who is providing
independent advice on Charter Review. -Keralamonitor.com