Union slams Ofcom over spectrum sale

The leader of UK union Bectu has accused Ofcom of " treachery" over its sale of the UK's spectrum.

Tony Lennon, president of Bectu, called for a public value test to decide on the best use of what was a valuable resource.

"I am stunned that public property is being packaged up and sold off in this way," he told the BBC. "If Ofcom gets it wrong it will be a massive act of treachery."

Ofcom has yet to decide on the process for the 2009 auction, which will sell the airwaves freed up by the 2010 to 2012 switch off of terrestrial broadcasting.

Lennon maintained that the process could not be decided based on the wishes of those expected to spend huge amounts in the auction.

"Effectively what Ofcom is doing is selling it off to the highest bidder," he said. "Allowing the people with the biggest cheque books to decide is not the best way and, as well as economic tests, each bid should be assessed on social criteria."

Bectu has around 27,000 members in the UK covering audio-visual and entertainment areas such as broadcasting, film, and interactive media.

See also:

UK broadband users scared of switching

More needs to be done to ease migration  13 Feb 2008

MoD could sell radio spectrum

Ofcom prepares to free up valuable public spectrum  01 Feb 2008

BT offers 100Mbps fibre-based broadband

Superfast network for residential and business customers  11 Jan 2008

Ofcom lines up multi-billion pound 'digital dividend' auction

But analysts warn against pure market-led approach  14 Dec 2007

Ofcom kicks off fifth spectrum auction

'L-Band' suitable for mobile TV, satellite radio and wireless broadband  07 Dec 2007

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