Strategy
OFCOM's strategy is based on its vision, which specifies the general orientation of its actions, and its mission, which derives from the basic mandate which the Federal Council entrusts to OFCOM.
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is active in the media, telecommunications & postal services and information society sectors in Switzerland. The Office ensures a stable and progressive communications infrastructure and lays the foundations for a strong Swiss media center. The Office prepares the decisions of the Swiss government (the Federal Council), the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and the Swiss Federal Communications Commission (ComCom). OFCOM is also developing international activities.
The legal framework
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is part of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and performs tasks both for the DETEC and for the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom). OFCOM's mandate derives from the Telecommunications Act (TCA), the Federal Act on Radio and Television (RTVA) and the Postal Services Act.
Vision
As the competence center for telecommunications, the media and the postal services within the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, and Communications (DETEC, we actively contribute to the smooth operation and the successful development of a democratic digital society.
Mission
In relation to the media:
OFCOM guarantees the general conditions for strengthening a diverse media system which contributes to democratic opinion-forming and decision-making, taking into account the constantly changing usage habits as well as technical and economic transformation processes.
OFCOM puts into place the conditions necessary for ensuring a public identity-building service at the national, regional-linguistic and local levels in the area of the electronic media, and creates a basis for contemporary supporting mechanisms for the media.
In relation to telecommunications and postal services
OFCOM ensures the framework conditions in order to guarantee effective competition and a universal service adapted to needs, so that secure and modern communication infrastructures as well as varied, advantageous and competitive telecommunications and postal services (including public service in the field of payment traffic) can be made available to the population and the economy.
In the field of telecommunications, OFCOM also ensures an adequate allocation of radiocommunication frequencies and addressing resources, guarantees undisturbed radio communications, regulates market access for telecommunications facilities and electrical appliances, promotes the efficient use of frequencies and the implementation of technological innovations, and supports the evolution of the information society by identifying risks and opportunities.