Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 47

The Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988

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© Crown Copyright 1988

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1988 No. 47

TELEGRAPHS

The Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949^[1] as enacted, and as extended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Channel Islands) Order 1952^[2] and the Wireless Telegraphy (Isle of Man) Order 1952^[3] and now vested in him^[4] , and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

    1.    These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988 and shall come into force on 17th February 1988.

    2.    In these Regulations —

"the Act" means the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949;

"authorised broadcasting station" means a station for the time being duly authorised to conduct a broadcasting service pursuant to the Radio Regulations published by the General Secretariat of the International Telecommunication Union and for the time being in force;

"public telecommunication system" has the meaning given by section 9(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1984^[5] .

    3.    Save as excepted by regulation 4, a person shall not use any station for wireless telegraphy or any wireless telegraphy apparatus to send a message, communication or other matter in whatever form that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

    4.    Regulation 3 shall not apply in relation to the use by any person of an authorised broadcasting station or a public telecommunication system.

John Butcher

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

18th January 1988

These Regulations prohibit the use of a station for wireless telegraphy and wireless telegraphy apparatus as set out in regulation 3 for the purpose of sending a message, communication or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. A person who sends such a message, communication or other matter is guilty of an offence under the Act and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

[1] 1949 c. 54. back

[2] S.I. 1952/1900. back

[3] S.I. 1952/1899. back

[4] 1969 c. 48; S.I. 1969/1369, 1371, 1974/691. back

[5] 1984 c. 12. back