UK Base Station Locations to Be Published

The UK's Information Commissioner has served a Decision Notice under the Environmental Information Regulations ordering the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom to provide all data on mobile phone base stations held within its Sitefinder database. The Sitefinder database was set up in response to the Stewart Report, set out the findings of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones which was established to assess the state of research into possible health risks from mobile phones.

In reaching his decision, the Commissioner carefully considered each reason that Ofcom put forward for withholding grid references and the database in its entirety in a searchable format. These included national security, public safety and intellectual property rights. The Commissioner decided that none of the exceptions cited by Ofcom were appropriately applied.

As with the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations contain a presumption in favour of disclosure.

The Information Commissioner found that Ofcom has not presented sufficient evidence to suggest there is a particular risk to the security of base stations, particularly in light of the information that is already available in the public domain. The Commissioner also determined that, although database rights and copyright exist, this should not prevent Ofcom from disclosing the requested information.

Ofcom must meet the requirements of the Decision Notice within 35 days of the date of the Notice. Ofcom has a right of appeal against the Commissioner's Decision Notice.

The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information.

The Ofcom sitefinder website is at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/sitefinder/"

Posted to the site on 15th September 2006