Archived news and publications - 2006
December 06
PSB Freesat: Independent review of market implications
A report for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by Brian Williamson in association with Fathom
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/closed_consultations/freesat.html
November 06
Study on Legal, Economic & Technical Aspects of ‘Collective Use’ of Spectrum in the European Community
A report for the European Commission by Phillipa Marks, Mott MacDonald, Aegis, IDATE and Wik Consult
October 06
Hong Kong Spectrum Policy Review
A report by Phillipa Marks, Ovum and Aegis for the Communications and Technology Branch, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration.
August 06
Based upon on-going research with Helen Lay into efficiency measurement in the UK Water and Sewerage industry, Melvyn Weeks made a presentation at the North American Productivity Workshop (NAPW) held at the Stern School of Business at NYU.
The three-day workshop included presentations of theoretical and empirical papers on productivity, production and efficiency measurement. The paper was also presented at the 13th International Panel Data Conference held at Cambridge 7-9th July, and at the University of Sydney on the 31st July.
View the slides
View NAPW Conference Program
August 06
A Study for the Provision of Aggregation of Frequency to Provide Wider Bandwidth Services
A report for Ofcom by Brian Williamson of Indepen in association with QinetiQ and Aegis
August 06
Index of the Comparative Operating Costs of RSLs in Scotland – August 2006
A report by John Hargreaves, Helen Lay and Melvyn Weeks
View the report
Accompanying ready reckoner
July 06
Study into the potential application of Administered Incentive Pricing to spectrum used for Terrestrial TV & Radio Broadcasting
A report for Ofcom by Phillipa Marks and Brian Williamson, in association with Aegis
July 06
Review of the Regulatory Framework for Fixed-Mobile Convergence in Hong Kong
A report for OFTA by David Lewin and Ovum
July 06
Preface and executive summary to Maximising ICT’s Contribution to the Economic Growth of Korea
A report by David Lewin and Ovum
July 06
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2006 Stakeholder Report
A report for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by Martin Blaxall, David Jennings and Accent
June 06
Brian Williamson spoke at an event organised by the Global Communications Consortium at the London Business School on 29 June on "Next generation networks – investment and regulation".
Details of the event are available at: http://www.london.edu/assets/documents/PDF/GCC_Programme_-_29th_June.pdf
June 06
A sound basis for evidence based policy?
A critique of the ECTA regulatory scorecard and SPC Network papers on investment and broadband
A report for ETNO by Brian Williamson and Melvyn Weeks
May 06
The Evolution of Ofwat’s Approach to Efficiency Analysis
A report for Anglian Water, South East Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water
John Hargreaves, Matt Parr, Helen Lay and Melvyn Weeks
May 06
Brian Williamson gave a presentation on "The Communications Framework Review: how do we ensure it is evidence based?" at the International Institute of Communications telecommunications and media forum in Brussels on 24 May 2006.
May 06
Appraising the proposed BBC licence fee increase
A report for ITV published on the 24th of May by Brian Williamson and Justine Bond
May 06
The economic costs and benefits of easing Sunday shopping restrictions on large stores in England and Wales
A report for the DTI by Brian Williamson, John Hargreaves, Justine Bond and Helen Lay
View the report
Accompanying Excel Model
May 06
Brian Williamson gave a presentation on "Options for strategic regulatory reform in the communications sector" at the Oxford Regulatory Policy Institute’s Hertford Seminar on Regulation on 28 April.
April 06
David Lewinrecently ran a lunch time workshop for institutional investors on behalf of HSBC. In his presentation he set out his views on:
- how the EU telecommunication industry will evolve over the next five years
- how regulation will shape that evolution and
- which types of players will win and lose as the industry changes.
April 06
Energy policy is once again high on the political agenda, with an energy policy review in the UK, the publication of a European Commission Green Paper on Energy Policy and G8 concerns over energy security. The Indepen Forum for Chief Executives’ held a roundtable on 14 March 2006 to discuss the issues at stake and possible ways forward. The roundtable included chairmen, chief executives and directors of major energy companies together with representatives from regulators and directors from financial institutions.
Summary of the main conclusions from the discussion.
March 06
Applying the EU Regulatory Framework in microstates
A report to the CYTA, EPT and Maltacom by Ovum and Indepen
David Lewin and Brian Williamson
February 06
Spectrum Usage Rights
A report for Ofcom by Aegis, Transfinite and Phillipa Marks of Indepen
February 06
A licence to kill? The impact of the BBC licence fee settlement on commercial radio
A report for the Commercial Radio Companies Association
Brian Williamson, Phillipa Marks and Justine Bond
January 06
Restoring European economic and social progress: unleashing the potential of ICT
A report by Indepen for the Brussels Round Table of leading European telecommunications operators and equipment manufacturers.
Brian Williamson, Phillipa Marks, David Lewin, Justine Bond and Helen Lay
Executive Summary
Main Report
Appendices
January 2006
David Hough joined Indepen in January 2006 where he is leading work for the utilities practice. He is an energy economist who has specialised over more than 30 years in understanding energy markets and energy policy, business and regulatory strategy, privatisation, gas and electricity market design, regulatory frameworks, and tariff policy and price controls. David previously worked at NERA Economic Consulting for 8 years, and British Gas for 21 years.
Press Release:
Indepen appoints energy specialist
26 January 2005
Indepen, the management and economic consultancy, has announced the appointment of David Hough, formerly an Associate Director with National Economic Research Associates (NERA), as Principal Consultant.
David Hough is an energy economist who specialises in understanding energy markets and energy policy, business and regulatory strategy, privatisation, gas and electricity market design, regulatory frameworks, and tariff policy and price controls. He has directed numerous projects for NERA, particularly in Europe and in Asia advising governments, major energy companies and regulators.
He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the gas and electricity industries, together with the oil industry in the UK and elsewhere, from his experience of working for 21 years in British Gas where he was the senior manager responsible for corporate regulatory strategy. Before that, he held several senior commercial posts including resident General Manager in the Philippines and in Pakistan and was planning manager for British Gas’s international businesses.
Commenting on David Hough’s appointment, Ann Bishop, Managing Director of Indepen, said: “We are delighted to welcome David to our team. His expertise will significantly enhance our ability to offer advice to clients in the energy sector at a time when energy issues are increasingly coming to the top of the public policy agenda”.