LETTER: Debate on media diversity

From Mr Graham Allen, MP

Sir: I hope the Departments of National Heritage and Trade and Industry have taken serious note of Oftel's consultative document (Report, 8 August), which is a welcome early move to stimulate debate on issues surrounding media convergence.

The threat of over-dominant players who find loopholes in the separate regulation of what have been separate industries and suffocate media diversity must be met head-on. Oftel's document is a valiant effort to eliminate any scope for monopoly abuse ahead of time, as is the Independent Television Commission's work on a code to govern "conditional access".

The Government should make sure that it is as forward-looking in its own pronouncements. I hope the imminent White Paper on digital broadcasting will not disappoint those who wish to see a diverse and prosperous multimedia future.

Yours faithfully,

Graham Allen

MP for Nottingham North (Lab)

House of Commons

London, SW1