Digital Television Broadcasting Bill

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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Arrangement of Clauses (Contents)

Digital Television Broadcasting Bill

A
B I L L
TO
Make provision for a universal service obligation for the delivery of certain digital television services and with respect to the delivery of regional television services; and for related purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Universal service obligation for providers of digital programme services.     1. - (1) The Secretary of State shall make regulations creating a universal service obligation for providers of digital programme services.

    (2) Without prejudice to the generality and in addition to any duties imposed on the holder of a digital programme licence under the Broadcasting Act 1996 regulations under this section shall-

(a) require the holder of a digital programme licence to provide digital programme services for transmission-

(i) throughout the United Kingdom, or

(ii) throughout a specified region;

(b) provide for exceptions from that requirement in respect of specified broadcasts or circumstances;

(c) require the holder of a digital programme licence to provide digital programme services for transmission to the same coverage area as was served by the analogue services which they replace, not later than-

(i) the date, or

(ii) the expiry of the period of time

prescribed in regulations under section 3.

Regional digital programme services.     2. - (1) The Secretary of State shall make regulations requiring providers of regional digital programme services to provide different programmes for transmission for such different areas as he may determine not later than-

(a) the date, or

(b) the expiry of the period of time

prescribed in regulations under section 3.

    (2) The Secretary of State may vary the requirements imposed under subsection (1) in cases where, following consultation with the persons listed in subsection (3), he is of the opinion that such a variation is in the best interests of viewers of television programmes in a specified area.

    (3) Regulations under this section may be made in respect of one or more specified regions or areas and shall only be made after the Secretary of State has consulted-

(a) all holders of multiplex licences broadcasting in the specified region or area;

(b) all holders of digital programme licences broadcasting in the specified region or area;

(c) all providers of television broadcasting services broadcasting in the specified region or area;

(d) such persons as appear to him to represent viewers of television broadcasts in the specified region or area; and

(e) such other persons as he thinks fit.

Timetable for cessation of analogue television broadcasts.     3. - (1) The Secretary of State shall by regulations-

(a) prescribe a date by which; or

(b) prescribe a period beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State determines that a specified percentage of households is able to receive digital television broadcasts on the expiry of which

analogue television broadcasts shall cease.

    (2) Regulations under this section shall be made only after the Secretary of State has consulted-

(a) all holders of multiplex licences;

(b) all holders of digital programme licences;

(c) all providers of television broadcasting services (whether terrestrial or satellite) within the United Kingdom;

(d) such persons as appear to him to represent viewers of television broadcasts; and

(e) such other persons as he thinks fit.

    (3) The Secretary of State may amend regulations under this section by prescribing an earlier date or shorter period either nationally or for a specified region but shall do so only if he is satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made to enable all households (nationally or in the specified region as the case may be) to receive digital television broadcasts by the date or on the expiry of the period concerned, including at least one such arrangement which shall be made available without charge.

Allocation of multiplex licences and frequency bandwidth.     4. The Secretary of State shall in addition to any duties which he imposes on the holder of a multiplex licence or on the Independent Television Commission in relation to the award of such a licence make regulations on the arrangements for the allocation of multiplex licences and frequency bandwidth to ensure provision and funding for-

(a) the supply of equipment enabling specified classes of household to receive terrestrial digital television broadcasts; and

(b) compliance with the universal service obligation under section 1 and the requirement for regional variations in programming under section 2.

© Parliamentary copyright 1999
Prepared 15 July 1999

Digital Television Broadcasting Bill

	A B I L L TO Make provision for a universal service obligation for the delivery of certain digital television services and with respect to the delivery of regional television services; and for related purposes. BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
Universal service obligation for providers of digital programme services.	1. - (1) The Secretary of State shall make regulations creating a universal service obligation for providers of digital programme services.
	(2) Without prejudice to the generality and in addition to any duties imposed on the holder of a digital programme licence under the Broadcasting Act 1996 regulations under this section shall-
	(a) require the holder of a digital programme licence to provide digital programme services for transmission-
	(i) throughout the United Kingdom, or
	(ii) throughout a specified region;
	(b) provide for exceptions from that requirement in respect of specified broadcasts or circumstances;
	(c) require the holder of a digital programme licence to provide digital programme services for transmission to the same coverage area as was served by the analogue services which they replace, not later than-
	(i) the date, or
	(ii) the expiry of the period of time
	prescribed in regulations under section 3.
Regional digital programme services.	2. - (1) The Secretary of State shall make regulations requiring providers of regional digital programme services to provide different programmes for transmission for such different areas as he may determine not later than-
	(a) the date, or
	(b) the expiry of the period of time
	prescribed in regulations under section 3.
	(2) The Secretary of State may vary the requirements imposed under subsection (1) in cases where, following consultation with the persons listed in subsection (3), he is of the opinion that such a variation is in the best interests of viewers of television programmes in a specified area.
	(3) Regulations under this section may be made in respect of one or more specified regions or areas and shall only be made after the Secretary of State has consulted-
	(a) all holders of multiplex licences broadcasting in the specified region or area;
	(b) all holders of digital programme licences broadcasting in the specified region or area;
	(c) all providers of television broadcasting services broadcasting in the specified region or area;
	(d) such persons as appear to him to represent viewers of television broadcasts in the specified region or area; and
	(e) such other persons as he thinks fit.
Timetable for cessation of analogue television broadcasts.	3. - (1) The Secretary of State shall by regulations-
	(a) prescribe a date by which; or
	(b) prescribe a period beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State determines that a specified percentage of households is able to receive digital television broadcasts on the expiry of which
	analogue television broadcasts shall cease.
	(2) Regulations under this section shall be made only after the Secretary of State has consulted-
	(a) all holders of multiplex licences;
	(b) all holders of digital programme licences;
	(c) all providers of television broadcasting services (whether terrestrial or satellite) within the United Kingdom;
	(d) such persons as appear to him to represent viewers of television broadcasts; and
	(e) such other persons as he thinks fit.
	(3) The Secretary of State may amend regulations under this section by prescribing an earlier date or shorter period either nationally or for a specified region but shall do so only if he is satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made to enable all households (nationally or in the specified region as the case may be) to receive digital television broadcasts by the date or on the expiry of the period concerned, including at least one such arrangement which shall be made available without charge.
Allocation of multiplex licences and frequency bandwidth.	4. The Secretary of State shall in addition to any duties which he imposes on the holder of a multiplex licence or on the Independent Television Commission in relation to the award of such a licence make regulations on the arrangements for the allocation of multiplex licences and frequency bandwidth to ensure provision and funding for-
	(a) the supply of equipment enabling specified classes of household to receive terrestrial digital television broadcasts; and
	(b) compliance with the universal service obligation under section 1 and the requirement for regional variations in programming under section 2.