Catalogue description Records of the Telecommunications and Post Division, and predecessors

Prior to 1969, the General Post Office (GPO) had responsibility for posts and telecommunications, including overseas telecommunications administered by the External Telecommunications Executive. These responsibilities included wireless telegraphy services, the assets and operations of Cable and Wireless Ltd, and Commonwealth requirements for satellite communications and new telephone cables (first addressed by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference of 1965).

In July 1969, the Post Office Act converted the GPO from a department of state into a public corporation, and overall political responsibility for posts and telecommunications, including broadcasting, was transferred to a new Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications was responsible for the general governmental control and sponsorship of the Post Office Corporation. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications appointed the chair and members of the Corporation and also the Post Office Users' National Council, to which could be referred for consideration any problems or issues arising from Post Office activities. During 1971 a Post Office Users' National Council Secretariat was set up within the Ministry to deal with Council Matters, but this had been disbanded by 1973. The Ministry sponsored both the Post Office's postal activities (including Giro) and its telecommunications and data-processing businesses. The Telecommunications Division undertook long-term planning affecting the Post Office telecommunications monopoly and was responsible for planning and managing capital investment in the national telecommunications network. The Economic and Statistical Division undertook economic and statistical studies relating to posts and telecommunications.

It was also the job of the Ministry to develop and coordinate international postal and telecommunications services, and it liaised with organisations such as the Overseas Development Administration, and the Universal Postal Union. The Telecommunications Division was involved with the International Telecommunication Union in the regulation of international telecommunications services and the development of new technical facilities. It worked with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation to help provide advice to Commonwealth countries on the development of internal and external telecommunications systems. It also participated in research relating to communications satellites through its work with the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (INTELSAT). Under the terms of the 1969 Act, sponsorship of Cable and Wireless Ltd was transferred from the Post Office to the Telecommunications Division of the Ministry. In 1971 the Telecommunications Division was divided into two sections, one dealing with international telecommunications, the other with finance and policy matters.

The Radio Regulatory Division exercised the functions previously assigned to the Post Office under the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 and 1967. It was responsible for the licensing of all wireless telegraphy stations and installations and investigated cases of illicit transmission and reception. It also controlled the use and management of the radio spectrum. The Directorate of Radio Technology undertook technological research relating to radio, including the work relating to frequency planning assignments, the study of satellite systems and the design of anti-interference equipment. It also participated in international committees and conferences on radio matters.

Governmental responsibility for broadcasting services was also transferred from the Post Office to the Ministry by the 1969 Act. The Minister nominated the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for appointment by the Queen in Council, and, under the provisions of the Television Act of 1954, appointed the chairman and members of the Independent Television Authority (ITA), and from 1972 the Independent Broadcasting Authority. The Broadcasting Department was concerned with the development of government policy relating to television and sound broadcasting and with advising the government on broadcasting legislation. It liaised with the BBC and ITA on the provision of public broadcasting services and on matters of finance and technical policy. The Broadcasting Department was also responsible for licensing wired services, including broadcast relay services and cable television systems, and dealt with broadcast receiving licence matters (although the Post Office retained responsibility for the collection of the licence fee). Although its basic functions remained the same, the Broadcasting Department expanded considerably during the lifetime of the Ministry, as television and radio broadcasting services proliferated and public broadcasting became increasingly important. In 1973 the Department was divided into two divisions, one dealing with constitutional and technical matters, the other with finance and licensing.

In March 1974, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications was dissolved, with broadcasting responsibilities and radio regulatory functions were transferred to the Home Office, while the Department of Industry took over responsibility for posts and telecommunications. The Telecommunications and Posts Division then continued in the Department of Industry until 1983, when it was superseded by the Telecommunications Division of the re-established Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).