"The public see a need for independent scrutiny and regulation, but they want this done by a separate body representing license fee payers, not by politicians," the chair of the BBC Trust was quoted as saying by The Independent.
Fairhead noted that the broadcaster’s independence had needed protection from the government’s involvement for decades amid "a growing tendency" for select committees to ask BBC executives about certain editorial decisions in detail.
"We believe that this charter review gives us a chance to codify the relationship between the BBC and the state, and the BBC and its public, so that the terms of engagement are clear, the processes transparent, and the BBC can be seen to be both accountable and independent," Fairhead said.
She said the broadcaster was facing tighter and tighter funding constraints and great external challenges.
Fairhead stressed that the public could play a vital role in deciding the future of the BBC, encouraging people to use any opportunity to have their voice heard "loud and clear."
In July, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne pushed the cost of providing free television licenses to over-75s, at an estimated cost of $1 billion, onto the broadcaster as part of a broader plan to cut budget spending on benefits by almost $19-billion.
The BBC, headquartered in London, is one of the largest broadcasters in the world. The BBC Trust consists of 12 trustees responsible for license fee revenue. The trust also sets the broadcaster’s editorial guidelines.
