Part 2: Legislative and executive competence: further provision Part 4: Miscellaneous Section 68: Office of Communications
Ofcom is the UK-wide independent communications regulator overseeing television, radio, telecoms, mobiles, postal services and the airwaves. It was established by the Office of the Communications Act 2002 ("the 2002 Act").
	Section 1 of the 2002 Act provides that the Secretary of State appoints the chairman and other members of Ofcom. Subsections (2) and (3) of this section amend section 1 of the 2002 Act to provide that the Welsh Ministers shall appoint one member of Ofcom and, before doing so, they must consult the Secretary of State. Subsection (4) also amends section 1(5) to ensure that the member appointed by the Welsh Ministers is involved in the appointment of any executive members of Ofcom.
	The Schedule to the 2002 Act makes further provision about Ofcom including qualification for membership, tenure of office, accounts & audit and annual reports. Subsection (5) of this section amends the application of the Schedule in relation to the member of Ofcom appointed by the Welsh Ministers. The functions relating to ensuring that a person being appointed to Ofcom does not have any conflict of interest and the functions relating to a member’s resignation or removal for office are conferred on the Welsh Ministers. The member may only be removed from office by the Welsh Ministers following consultation with the Secretary of State.
	Subsection (7) of this section amends the Schedule to the 2002 Act to require the Comptroller and Auditor General to send a copy of Ofcom’s statement of accounts and his report to the Welsh Ministers and for the Welsh Ministers to lay those documents before the Assembly. Similarly, subsection (8) amends the Schedule to the 2002 Act to require Ofcom to send its annual report to the Welsh Ministers and for the Welsh Ministers to lay the report before the Assembly.