(1)It shall be the duty of OFCOM, in accordance with the following provisions of this section, to exercise their powers under paragraph 14 of the Schedule to the Office of Communications Act 2002 (c. 11) (committees of OFCOM) to establish and maintain a committee for each of the following parts of the United Kingdom—
(a)England;
(b)Wales;
(c)Scotland; and
(d)Northern Ireland.
(2)Each committee shall consist of—
(a)a chairman appointed by OFCOM; and
(b)such number of other members appointed by OFCOM as OFCOM think fit.
(3)In appointing a person in accordance with this section to be a member of a committee, OFCOM must have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the person appointed is able to represent the interests and opinions, in relation to communications matters, of persons living in the part of the United Kingdom for which the committee has been established.
(4)The function of each committee shall be to provide advice to OFCOM (including other committees established by OFCOM) about the interests and opinions, in relation to communications matters, of persons living in the part of the United Kingdom for which the committee has been established.
(5)A committee established under this section may also, at the request of the Consumer Panel, provide advice about those interests and opinions to the Consumer Panel.
(6)The consent of OFCOM are required for the giving of advice under subsection (5).
(7)In this section “communications matters” has the same meaning as in section 3.
(1)It shall be the duty of OFCOM, in accordance with the following provisions of this section, to exercise their powers under paragraph 14 of the Schedule to the Office of Communications Act 2002 (c. 11) (committees of OFCOM) to establish and maintain a committee to provide the advice specified in this section.
(2)The committee shall consist of—
(a)a chairman appointed by OFCOM; and
(b)such number of other members appointed by OFCOM as OFCOM think fit.
(3)In appointing persons to be members of the committee, OFCOM must have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the members of the committee include—
(a)persons who are familiar with the needs of the elderly; and
(b)persons who are familiar with the needs of persons with disabilities.
(4)The function of the committee shall be to provide advice to OFCOM (including other committees established by OFCOM) about the interests, in relation to communications matters, of—
(a)the elderly; and
(b)persons with disabilities.
(5)The committee may also, at the request of the Consumer Panel, provide advice about those interests to the Consumer Panel.
(6)The consent of OFCOM are required for the giving of advice under subsection (5).
(7)In this section “communications matters” has the same meaning as in section 3.