RFID deregulation by OFCOM

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): Allowed RFID technology to be used without the need for a licence.

The above was the deregulation effort by OFCOM, UK in its Chief Executive's Report, Stephen A. Carter. Quoting the report:

..."As a comparatively new institution, Ofcom is, I think, unusual among UK regulators in that the contemporary principles of better regulation are incorporated into our statutory rule-book, the Communications Act 2003.

A commitment to reducing the regulatory burden upon industry underpins all of our work; both in seeking to remove existing rules which have been overtaken by market developments and are past the point of usefulness; and by resisting, through vigorous internal challenge at Executive and Board level, all attempts to establish new regulation where the case for such an imposition is anything less than crystal clear and unambiguous..."

My opinion: the deregulation of RFID technology was a smart move and of course, the industry will display their 'thumbs up'. However, whether the technology is ever overzealous remains an open question to be answered. I do not think that RFID technology should be the victim of competition principles and perhaps, the technology should be creatively shared as 'commons' as argued by Professor Lawrence Lessig in his book, Future of Ideas.

To gain access on Stephen A. Carter's report, click: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/accoun/reports_plans/annrep0506/ceo_rpt/