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Communications Act 2003

2003 CHAPTER 21

CONTENTS

Go to Preamble

  1. Part 1

    Functions of OFCOM

    1. Transferred and assigned functions

      1. 1. Functions and general powers of OFCOM

      2. 2. Transfer of functions of pre-commencement regulators

    2. General duties in carrying out functions

      1. 3. General duties of OFCOM

      2. 4. Duties for the purpose of fulfilling Community obligations

      3. 5. Directions in respect of networks and spectrum functions

      4. 6. Duties to review regulatory burdens

      5. 7. Duty to carry out impact assessments

      6. 8. Duty to publish and meet promptness standards

      7. 9. Secretary of State’s powers in relation to promptness standards

    3. Accessible domestic communications apparatus

      1. 10. Duty to encourage availability of easily usable apparatus

    4. Media literacy

      1. 11. Duty to promote media literacy

    5. OFCOM’s Content Board

      1. 12. Duty to establish and maintain Content Board

      2. 13. Functions of the Content Board

    6. Functions for the protection of consumers

      1. 14. Consumer research

      2. 15. Duty to publish and take account of research

      3. 16. Consumer consultation

      4. 17. Membership etc. of the Consumer Panel

      5. 18. Committees and other procedure of the Consumer Panel

      6. 19. Power to amend remit of Consumer Panel

    7. Advisory committees

      1. 20. Advisory committees for different parts of the United Kingdom

      2. 21. Advisory committee on elderly and disabled persons

    8. International matters

      1. 22. Representation on international and other bodies

      2. 23. Directions for international purposes in respect of broadcasting functions

    9. General information functions

      1. 24. Provision of information to the Secretary of State

      2. 25. Community requirement to provide information

      3. 26. Publication of information and advice for consumers etc.

    10. Employment in broadcasting

      1. 27. Training and equality of opportunity

    11. Charging

      1. 28. General power to charge for services

    12. Guarantees

      1. 29. Secretary of State guarantees for OFCOM borrowing

    13. Provisions supplemental to transfer of functions

      1. 30. Transfers of property etc. from pre-commencement regulators

      2. 31. Transitional functions and abolition of pre-commencement regulators

  2. Part 2

    Networks, services and the radio spectrum

    1. Chapter 1

      Electronic communications networks and services

      1. Preliminary

        1. 32. Meaning of electronic communications networks and services

      2. Notification by providers

        1. 33. Advance notification to OFCOM

        2. 34. Designations and requirements for the purposes of s. 33

        3. 35. Notification of contraventions of s. 33

        4. 36. Enforcement notification for contravention of s. 33

        5. 37. Penalties for contravention of s. 33

      3. Administrative charges imposed on providers

        1. 38. Fixing of charges

        2. 39. Supplemental provision about fixing charges

        3. 40. Notification of non-payment of charges

        4. 41. Penalties for non-payment of charges

        5. 42. Suspending service provision for non-payment

        6. 43. Enforcement of directions under s. 42

      4. Register of providers required to notify or to pay charges

        1. 44. Duty of OFCOM to keep publicly accessible register

      5. Conditions of entitlement to provide network or service etc.

        1. 45. Power of OFCOM to set conditions

        2. 46. Persons to whom conditions may apply

        3. 47. Test for setting or modifying conditions

        4. 48. Procedure for setting, modifying and revoking conditions

        5. 49. Directions and approvals for the purposes of a s. 45 condition

        6. 50. Delivery of copies of notifications etc.

      6. General conditions: subject-matter

        1. 51. Matters to which general conditions may relate

      7. General conditions: customer interests

        1. 52. Conditions relating to customer interests

        2. 53. Approval of codes of practice for the purposes of s. 52

        3. 54. Approval of dispute procedures for the purposes of s. 52

        4. 55. Orders by OFCOM in the absence of conditions under s. 52

      8. General conditions: telephone numbers

        1. 56. The National Telephone Numbering Plan

        2. 57. Conditions to secure access to telephone numbers

        3. 58. Conditions about allocation and adoption of numbers

        4. 59. Telephone numbering conditions binding non-providers

        5. 60. Modification of documents referred to in numbering conditions

        6. 61. Withdrawal of telephone number allocations

        7. 62. Numbering reorganisations

        8. 63. General duty as to telephone numbering functions

      9. General conditions: must-carry obligations

        1. 64. Must-carry obligations

      10. Universal service conditions

        1. 65. Obligations to be secured by universal service conditions

        2. 66. Designation of universal service providers

        3. 67. Subject-matter of universal service conditions

        4. 68. Tariffs etc. for universal services

        5. 69. Directories and directory enquiry facilities

        6. 70. Review of compliance costs

        7. 71. Sharing of burden of universal service obligations

        8. 72. Report on sharing mechanism

      11. Access-related conditions

        1. 73. Permitted subject-matter of access-related conditions

        2. 74. Specific types of access-related conditions

        3. 75. Conditional access systems and access to digital services

        4. 76. Modification and revocation of conditions imposed under s. 75

      12. Privileged supplier conditions

        1. 77. Imposition of privileged supplier conditions

      13. SMP conditions: procedure

        1. 78. Circumstances required for the setting of SMP conditions

        2. 79. Market power determinations

        3. 80. Proposals for identifying markets and for market power determinations

        4. 81. Delivery of copies of notifications under ss. 79 and 80

        5. 82. European Commission’s powers in respect of proposals

        6. 83. Special rules for transnational markets

        7. 84. Review of services market identifications and determinations

        8. 85. Review of apparatus market identifications and determinations

        9. 86. Cases where review required

      14. SMP services conditions: subject-matter

        1. 87. Conditions about network access etc.

        2. 88. Conditions about network access pricing etc.

        3. 89. Conditions about network access in exceptional cases

        4. 90. Conditions about carrier selection and pre-selection

        5. 91. Conditions about regulation of services etc. for end-users

        6. 92. Conditions about leased lines

      15. SMP apparatus conditions: subject-matter

        1. 93. Conditions about apparatus supply

      16. Enforcement of conditions

        1. 94. Notification of contravention of conditions

        2. 95. Enforcement notification for contravention of conditions

        3. 96. Penalties for contravention of conditions

        4. 97. Amount of penalty under s. 96

        5. 98. Power to deal with urgent cases

        6. 99. Confirmation of directions under s. 98

        7. 100. Suspending service provision for contraventions of conditions

        8. 101. Suspending apparatus supply for contraventions of conditions

        9. 102. Procedure for directions under ss. 100 and 101

        10. 103. Enforcement of directions under ss. 98, 100 and 101

        11. 104. Civil liability for breach of conditions or enforcement notification

      17. OFCOM’s duty to intervene on network access issues

        1. 105. Consideration and determination of network access questions

      18. Electronic communications code

        1. 106. Application of the electronic communications code

        2. 107. Procedure for directions applying code

        3. 108. Register of persons in whose case code applies

        4. 109. Restrictions and conditions subject to which code applies

        5. 110. Enforcement of restrictions and conditions

        6. 111. Enforcement notification for contravention of code restrictions

        7. 112. Penalties for contravention of code restrictions

        8. 113. Suspension of application of code

        9. 114. Procedure for directions under s. 113

        10. 115. Modification and revocation of application of code

        11. 116. Notification of cessation by person to whom code applies

        12. 117. Transitional schemes on cessation of application of code

        13. 118. Compulsory acquisition of land etc.

        14. 119. Power to give assistance in relation to certain proceedings

      19. Regulation of premium rate services

        1. 120. Conditions regulating premium rate services

        2. 121. Approval of code for premium rate services

        3. 122. Orders by OFCOM in the absence of a code under s. 121

        4. 123. Enforcement of s. 120 conditions

        5. 124. Suspending service provision for contraventions of s. 120 conditions

      20. Offences relating to networks and services

        1. 125. Dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services

        2. 126. Possession or supply of apparatus etc. for contravening s. 125

        3. 127. Improper use of public electronic communications network

      21. Persistent misuse of network or service

        1. 128. Notification of misuse of networks and services

        2. 129. Enforcement notifications for stopping persistent misuse

        3. 130. Penalties for persistent misuse

        4. 131. Statement of policy on persistent misuse

      22. Powers to deal with emergencies

        1. 132. Powers to require suspension or restriction of a provider’s entitlement

        2. 133. Enforcement of directions under s. 132

      23. Restrictions in leases and licences

        1. 134. Restrictions in leases and licences

      24. Information provisions

        1. 135. Information required for purposes of Chapter 1 functions

        2. 136. Information required for related purposes

        3. 137. Restrictions on imposing information requirements

        4. 138. Notification of contravention of information requirements

        5. 139. Penalties for contravention of information requirements

        6. 140. Suspending service provision for information contraventions

        7. 141. Suspending apparatus supply for information contraventions

        8. 142. Procedure for directions under ss. 140 and 141

        9. 143. Enforcement of directions under ss. 140 and 141

        10. 144. Offences in connection with information requirements

        11. 145. Statement of policy on information gathering

        12. 146. Provision of information by OFCOM

      25. Abolition of telecommunications licensing etc.

        1. 147. Repeal of provisions of Telecommunications Act 1984

      26. Local authority powers in relation to networks and services

        1. 148. Powers of local authorities in connection with networks

      27. Grants for networks and services in Northern Ireland

        1. 149. Grants by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

        2. 150. Grants by district councils

      28. Interpretation of Chapter 1

        1. 151. Interpretation of Chapter 1

    2. Chapter 2

      Spectrum use

      1. General functions relating to spectrum use

        1. 152. General functions of OFCOM in relation to radio spectrum

        2. 153. United Kingdom Plan for Frequency Authorisation

        3. 154. Duties of OFCOM when carrying out spectrum functions

        4. 155. Advisory service in relation to interference

        5. 156. Directions with respect to the radio spectrum

        6. 157. Procedure for directions under s. 156

      2. Reservation of spectrum for multiplex use

        1. 158. Special duty in relation to television multiplexes

      3. Recognised spectrum access

        1. 159. Grant of recognised spectrum access

        2. 160. Effect of grant of recognised spectrum access

        3. 161. Charges in respect of grants of recognised spectrum access

        4. 162. Conversion into and from wireless telegraphy licences

      4. Crown use of the radio spectrum

        1. 163. Payments for use of radio spectrum by the Crown

      5. Limitations and exemptions applied to spectrum use

        1. 164. Limitations on authorised spectrum use

        2. 165. Terms etc. of wireless telegraphy licences

        3. 166. Exemption from need for wireless telegraphy licence

      6. Award and transfer of licences

        1. 167. Bidding for wireless telegraphy licences

        2. 168. Spectrum trading

      7. Variation and revocation of licences

        1. 169. Variation and revocation of wireless telegraphy licences

      8. Wireless telegraphy register

        1. 170. Wireless telegraphy register

      9. Information requirements

        1. 171. Information requirements in relation to wireless telegraphy licences

      10. Criminal proceedings etc.

        1. 172. Contraventions of conditions for use of wireless telegraphy

        2. 173. Meaning of “repeated contravention” in s. 172

        3. 174. Procedure for prosecutions of wireless telegraphy offences

        4. 175. Special procedure for contraventions by multiplex licence holders

        5. 176. Amount of penalty under s. 175

        6. 177. “Relevant amount of gross revenue” for the purposes of s. 176

        7. 178. Proceedings for an offence relating to apparatus use

        8. 179. Modification of penalties for certain wireless telegraphy offences

        9. 180. Fixed penalties for certain wireless telegraphy offences

        10. 181. Power of arrest

        11. 182. Forfeiture etc. of restricted apparatus

      11. Construction of 1949 Act

        1. 183. Modification of definition of “undue interference”

        2. 184. Modification of definition of “wireless telegraphy”

    3. Chapter 3

      Disputes and appeals

      1. Disputes

        1. 185. Reference of disputes to OFCOM

        2. 186. Action by OFCOM on dispute reference

        3. 187. Legal proceedings about referred disputes

        4. 188. Procedure for resolving disputes

        5. 189. Disputes involving other member States

        6. 190. Resolution of referred disputes

        7. 191. OFCOM’s power to require information in connection with dispute

      2. Appeals

        1. 192. Appeals against decisions by OFCOM, the Secretary of State etc.

        2. 193. Reference of price control matters to the Competition Commission

        3. 194. Composition of Competition Commission for price control references

        4. 195. Decisions of the Tribunal

        5. 196. Appeals from the Tribunal

      3. Interpretation of Chapter 3

        1. 197. Interpretation of Chapter 3

  3. Part 3

    Television and Radio Services

    1. Chapter 1

      The BBC, C4C the Welsh Authority and the Gaelic media service

      1. The BBC

        1. 198. Functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC

      2. C4C

        1. 199. Functions of C4C

        2. 200. Removal of members of C4C

        3. 201. Deficits and surpluses of C4C

        4. 202. Borrowing limit for C4C

      3. The Welsh Authority

        1. 203. Function of OFCOM in relation to the Welsh Authority

        2. 204. Welsh Authority’s function of providing S4C and S4C Digital

        3. 205. Powers to provide other services

        4. 206. Other activities of Welsh Authority

        5. 207. Welsh Authority finances

      4. The Gaelic Media Service

        1. 208. The Gaelic Media Service

        2. 209. Membership of the Service

        3. 210. Supplementary provisions about the Service

    2. Chapter 2

      Regulatory Structure for Independent Television Services

      1. Preliminary

        1. 211. Regulation of independent television services

        2. 212. Abolition of function of assigning television frequencies

        3. 213. Abolition of licensing for local cable systems

      2. Channels 3 and 5

        1. 214. Digital Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences

        2. 215. Replacement of existing Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences

        3. 216. Renewal of Channel 3 and 5 licences

        4. 217. Financial terms of licence renewed under s. 216

      3. The public teletext service

        1. 218. Duty to secure the provision of a public teletext service

        2. 219. Licensing of the public teletext service

        3. 220. Delegation of provision of public teletext service

        4. 221. Replacement of existing public teletext provider’s licence

        5. 222. Renewal of public teletext licence

        6. 223. Financial terms of licence renewed under s. 222

      4. Meaning of initial expiry date

        1. 224. Meaning of “initial expiry date”

      5. Reviews relating to licensing of Channels 3 & 5 and teletext

        1. 225. Application for review of financial terms of replacement licences

        2. 226. Application for review of financial terms in consequence of new obligations

        3. 227. Reviews under ss. 225 and 226

        4. 228. Giving effect to reviews under ss. 225 and 226

        5. 229. Report in anticipation of new licensing round

        6. 230. Orders suspending rights of renewal

      6. Replacement of Channel 4 licence

        1. 231. Replacement of Channel 4 licence

      7. Television licensable content services

        1. 232. Meaning of “television licensable content service”

        2. 233. Services that are not television licensable content services

        3. 234. Modification of ss. 232 and 233

        4. 235. Licensing of television licensable content services

        5. 236. Direction to licensee to take remedial action

        6. 237. Penalties for contravention of licence condition or direction

        7. 238. Revocation of television licensable content service licence

        8. 239. Action against licence holders who incite crime or disorder

        9. 240. Abolition of separate licences for certain television services

      8. Television multiplex services

        1. 241. Television multiplex services

        2. 242. Composition of services in television multiplexes

        3. 243. Powers where frequencies reserved for qualifying services

      9. Local digital television services

        1. 244. Local digital television services

    3. Chapter 3

      Regulatory Structure for Independent Radio Services

      1. Preliminary

        1. 245. Regulation of independent radio services

        2. 246. Abolition of function of assigning radio frequencies