"For the busy practitioner in the telecommunications sector, the Communications Law Handbook is the single most invaluable resource which I have- it is always to hand on my desk and is the first port of call for any legal question relating to telecommunications regulation and practice- I look forward to a new edition soon to benefit all involved in this fast moving sector." Richard Hirst, Group Legal, Gamma Telecom
"a totally admirable book" "very easy to understand" Regulatory Council, T-Mobile UK
"...this is a book which no serious practitioner of communications law can afford to ignore" The Commonwealth Lawyer, 2010
"It is simply first rate and it has become a go-to reference for me and my team. It is obviously very thorough on the detail, goes beyond summarising the law, and is also extremely well-written and so is very easy to use." Kevin Mercer, Head of Legal Affairs (EMEA); Associate General Counsel, Ciena
Communications Law Handbook presents a detailed analysis of communications regulation in the UK, covering telecoms, communications-specific data protection and privacy regulations and content rules.
This book provides a detailed analysis of the changes made to the entire EU framework for telecoms regulation in 2003, along with the functional separation of BT in 2005 and the creation of Openreach. Other important acts and directives are also examined, including:
- The five EU directives (Framework, Access, Universal Service, Authorisation, Data Protection in Electronic Commerce)
- The 2003 Communications Act
- The 2007 Audiovisual Media Services Directive
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Communications Law Handbook will help aid all those who need to research any aspect of telecoms, communications or content regulation in the UK. Written in a pragmatic style this book contains a wealth of unique content such as:
- A chapter explaining thoroughly how the Undertakings under which BT Openreach was set up work and what they say;
- A detailed table of every Competition Act complaint considered by OFCOM since its inception and its result
- Coverage of the forthcoming changes to the EU telecoms regulatory framework
- A complete list of all of OFCOM’s market reviews, including tables showing in one place all of the “SMP conditions” imposed on BT;
- A detailed description of the regulation of spectrum in the UK
- A description of the forthcoming changes made by the European Union.
Reviews:
It is often said that to be an effective regulator in the communications business you have to be an amalgam of lawyer, engineer and economist. This has never more true than at present, where the entertainment and telecoms worlds have noisily collided, resulting in an avalanche of complex paperwork from the European Commission and from Ofcom.
Mike Conradi will be well known to those CMA members who attend our seminars and focus days, where he is a familiar presence. He serves on our “Regulatory College” where he advises and comments on the flood of consultations that come from the Regulator and the Government. In this book he has written a superb introduction to the scene and, as General Editor, has orchestrated contributions from other lawyers over 8 chapters, the whole covering virtually every sub-set of Ofcom activity – content and telecoms. Mike has not attempted to cover regulation in other Member States – his book is UK-specific.
But this is not a book riddled with legalese. It does not set out to advise or instruct on intricate points of law. However, it does contain, for those interested, a Table of Statutes, of Statutory Instruments, of European Statutes and of Ofcom Decisions under the Competition Act. The main content, however, is a very readable description and explanation of the rules and regulations relating (among other things) to:
- The five EU Directives that make up the “Framework” (and here Mike is as much up to date as the publishing cycle will allow – a footnote on page 8 explains how the new Framework has been held up by arguments over “three-strikes” proposals. The book also details all the changes that the new Framework will introduce);
- The 2003 Coms Act;
- The 2007 Audio Visual media Services Directive (that is going through the process of being introduced into UK law);
- RIPA;
- The WT Act and Ofcom’s approach to spectrum management.
There are chapters on SMP, on Privacy issues, and on the Powers and Duties of Ofcom. I found the chapter on Openreach and BT’s “Undertakings” to make fascinating reading. In short, this is a book that opens a window on a vitally important area that affects us all. As Mike says:
“I think it would be useful to regulatory affairs departments of telcos and service providers, and also to enterprises which themselves purchase communications services.”
I can only concur.
Communications Manager's Association 2009
