Many countries are applying television content regulations to mobile TV providers. The EU, for example, imposed the same restrictions on mobile TV advertising that apply to television broadcast advertising. In Singapore, the Media Development Authority (MDA), which is responsible for mobile broadcasting, conducted a public consultation in which it proposed subjecting mobile TV service providers, as well as cellular mobile TV providers, to broadcasting regulation. This would put them under MDA’s programming codes for free over-the-air content, subscription content, VOD and other kinds of content.[1] Singapore also proposed applying to mobile TV the existing framework for advertising regulation.
In Australia, regulation restricting minors’ access to certain content was applied to mobile premium services, including mobile portal and premium rate SMS/MMS services.[2] This regulation removed content-related provisions regarding mobile phones from the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination of 2005. Meanwhile the Restricted Access System Declaration, enacted in accordance with the new Schedule 7 of the Broadcasting Service Act 1992, was applied to mobile premium services such as mobile TV.
ENDNOTES
[1] Media Dev. Auth. (MDA), Public Consultation on Policy and Regulatory Framework for Mobile Broadcasting Services in Singapore, at 18 (Nov. 21, 2007), available at: www.mda.gov.sg/wms.file/mobj/mobj.1167.Mobile%20TV%20Consultation.pdf.
[2] Ausli. Comms. & Media Auth. (ACMA), Restricted Access System Declaration 2007, (Dec. 20, 2007). This new rule for restricting access to age restricted content becomes effective on Jan. 20 2008.