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Communications Bill


Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    476

 

Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

  52      (1)      Part 3 of Schedule 28 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

(c. 65) (provisions about land acquired by urban development corporations)

shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In paragraphs 5, 6, 13, 14 and 16—

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              (a)             for “the telecommunications code”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “the electronic communications code”;

              (b)             for “a telecommunications code system” and “any

telecommunications code system”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “an electronic communications code network”;

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              (c)             for “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “electronic communications apparatus”;

              (d)             for “such system” and “the system”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted, respectively, “such network” and “the network”.

Highways Act 1980

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  53       In section 35(11)(c) and (12) of the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66) (regulation of

rights to maintain apparatus on walkways), for “telecommunications code

systems” there shall be substituted “electronic communications code

networks”.

  54       In section 115D of that Act (limits on powers to restrict access to highways),

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for paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—

                    “(d)                      as to prevent the operator of an electronic communications

code network having access to any electronic

communications apparatus kept installed for the purposes of

that network under, in, on or over the highway.”

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  55       In section 142(5) of that Act (protection of telecommunications apparatus by

conditions in licences to plant trees etc. in a highway), for

“telecommunications code systems” there shall be substituted “electronic

communications code networks”.

  56      (1)      This paragraph applies to the following provisions of that Act—

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              (a)             the definition of “statutory undertakers” in section 144(6) (power to

erect flagpoles etc. on highways);

              (b)             the definition of “statutory undertakers” in section 169(4) (control of

scaffolding on highways);

              (c)             the definition of “statutory undertakers” in section 170(3) (control of

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mixing mortar etc. on highways);

              (d)             section 177(4) and (12) (licence to build over highway not to interfere

with telecommunications code systems);

              (e)             section 178(5) (exceptions to restriction on placing rails etc. over

highways);

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              (f)             section 329(4A) (interpretation);

              (g)             section 334 (savings for operators of telecommunications code

systems).

          (2)      In the provisions to which this paragraph applies—

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    477

 

              (a)             for “a telecommunications code system” and “any

telecommunications code system”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “an electronic communications code network”;

              (b)             for “the telecommunications code system” there shall be substituted

“the electronic communications code network”;

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              (c)             for “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “electronic communications apparatus”;

              (d)             for “telecommunications code”, wherever occurring (except in the

expression “telecommunications code system”), there shall be

substituted “electronic communications code”;

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              (e)             for “system”, wherever occurring (except in the expression

“telecommunications code system”), there shall be substituted

“network”.

New Towns Act 1981

  57      (1)      This paragraph applies to the following provisions of the New Towns Act

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1981 (c. 64)—

              (a)             section 16(2) (exception to extinguishment of rights over land

compulsorily acquired);

              (b)             section 19(2) (saving from the power to override certain rights);

              (c)             section 24 (apparatus kept installed for purposes of

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telecommunications code system);

              (d)             section 26(8) (extinguishment of rights of way and removal of

apparatus);

              (e)             section 39(7) (power of development corporation to transfer

undertakings).

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          (2)      In the provisions to which this paragraph applies—

              (a)             for “in accordance with the telecommunications code”, wherever

occurring, there shall be substituted “in accordance with the

electronic communications code”;

              (b)             for “a telecommunications code system” and “any

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telecommunications code system”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “an electronic communications code network”;

              (c)             for “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “electronic communications apparatus”;

              (d)             for “the running of the telecommunications code system” there shall

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be substituted “the provision of the electronic communications code

network”;

              (e)             for “the running of such a system” there shall be substituted “the

provision of such a network”;

              (f)             for “such system” and “the system”, wherever occurring, there shall

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be substituted, respectively, “such network” and “the network”.

Acquisition of Land Act 1981

  58      (1)      The Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67) shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In section 28 (acquisition of land by the creation of new rights), after

paragraph (h) there shall be inserted—

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                    “(i)                      paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 4 to the Communications Act

2003.”

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    478

 

          (3)      In section 32(6A) (exception to power to extinguish certain public rights of

way)—

              (a)             for the words from “telecommunication apparatus” to

“telecommunications code system” there shall be substituted

“electronic communications apparatus kept installed for the

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purposes of an electronic communications code network”; and

              (b)             in paragraph (a), for “system” there shall be substituted “network”.

Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

  59       In Article 159A of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/156

(N.I. 3)) (application of telecommunications code to the Northern Ireland

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Housing Executive)—

              (a)             for “telecommunications code”, wherever occurring, there shall be

substituted “electronic communications code”;

              (b)             for “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “electronic communications apparatus”;

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              (c)             for “a telecommunications code system” there shall be substituted

“an electronic communications code network”;

              (d)             for “that system” there shall be substituted “that network”.

Civil Aviation Act 1982

  60       In section 48(7)(b) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16) (Secretary of State to

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give notice of orders stopping up highways for civil aviation purposes), for

“a telecommunications code system” there shall be substituted “an

electronic communications code network”.

Representation of the People Act 1983

  61       In section 92(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)

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(broadcasting from outside the United Kingdom), for “the Independent

Television Commission or the Radio Authority” there shall be substituted

“the Office of Communications”.

  62      (1)      Section 93 of that Act (broadcasting of local items during election period)

shall be amended as follows.

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          (2)      In subsection (4), for the words from the beginning to “each” there shall be

substituted “The Office of Communications shall”.

          (3)      In subsection (6)—

              (a)             in the definition of “broadcasting authority”, for “the Independent

Television Commission, the Radio Authority” there shall be

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substituted “the Office of Communications”;

              (b)             in the definition of “relevant services”, for paragraphs (b) and (c)

there shall be substituted—

                           “(b)                             in relation to the Office of Communications, means

services licensed under Part 1 or 3 of the Broadcasting

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Act 1990 or Part 1 or 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1996.”

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    479

 

Telecommunications Act 1984

  63      (1)      Sections 44 to 46 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12) (offences

relating to modification and interception of messages and to assaults on the

persons engaged on the business of a telecommunications operator) shall

cease to have effect.

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          (2)      No proceedings shall be capable of being begun at any time after the

commencement of this paragraph for any offence under any of those

sections which was committed before the commencement of this paragraph.

          (3)      Any proceedings for an offence under any of those sections which have been

begun before the commencement of this paragraph but in which there has

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not yet been a conviction must be discontinued immediately.

  64       In sections 79, 83, 85 and 86 of that Act (wireless telegraphy provisions), for

the words “the Secretary of State” and “The Secretary of State”, wherever

occurring, there shall be substituted “OFCOM”.

  65       In section 79(6)(b) of that Act (seizure of apparatus etc.), for “section 80 or 81

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below” there shall be substituted “Schedule 7 to the Communications Act

2003”.

  66      (1)      Section 83 of that Act (disposal of seized apparatus and property) shall be

further amended as follows.

          (2)      In subsections (1)(b) and (2)(b), for “section 80 or 81 above”, in each place,

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there shall be substituted “Schedule 7 to the Communications Act 2003”.

          (3)      In subsection (3), for “him” there shall be substituted “them”.

          (4)      In subsection (4), for “he thinks” there shall be substituted “they think”.

  67      (1)      Section 84 of that Act (approval of wireless telegraphy apparatus) shall be

amended as follows.

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          (2)      For the words “Secretary of State”, wherever occurring, except in subsection

(9), there shall be substituted “relevant authority”.

          (3)      In subsection (5), for “him” there shall be substituted “the relevant

authority”.

          (4)      In subsection (8) for “his” there shall be substituted “the relevant

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authority’s”.

          (5)      After subsection (8) there shall be inserted—

              “(8A)                Subject to subsection (8B), in this section ‘the relevant authority’

means—

                    (a)                   in such cases as may be specified in an order made by the

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Secretary of State, the Secretary of State; and

                    (b)                   in any other case, OFCOM.

              (8B)                Where an application for the purposes of this section is made to the

Secretary of State or OFCOM and it appears to the person to whom

it is made that it should have been made to the other—

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                    (a)                   that person shall refer the application to the other; and

                    (b)                   the application shall be proceeded with as if made to the

person to whom it is referred.”

  68       Section 90 of that Act (funding of wireless interference service by the

Secretary of State) shall cease to have effect.

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Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    480

 

  69      (1)      Section 91 of that Act (construction of references to the conclusion of

proceedings) shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In subsection (1), for “under the 1949 Act or for the forfeiture of any

apparatus under section 80 or 81 above” there shall be substituted “to which

section 79 above applies or for the forfeiture of any apparatus under

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Schedule 7 to the Communications Act 2003”.

          (3)      In subsection (2), for “section 80(9)(b) above” there shall be substituted

“paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 to the Communications Act 2003”.

  70      (1)      Section 94 of that Act (directions in the interests of national security) shall be

amended as follows.

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          (2)      In subsection (1), for “requisite or expedient” there shall be substituted

“necessary”.

          (3)      In subsection (2), for “requisite or expedient” there shall be substituted

“necessary”.

          (4)      After subsection (2), there shall be inserted—

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              “(2A)                The Secretary of State shall not give a direction under subsection (1)

or (2) unless he believes that the conduct required by the direction is

proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by that conduct.”

          (5)      In subsection (3), for “this Act” there shall be substituted “Part 1 or Chapter

1 of Part 2 of the Communications Act 2003”.

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          (6)      In subsection (6), for “public telecommunications operators” there shall be

substituted “providers of public electronic communications services”.

          (7)      In subsection (8), for the words from “the Director” onwards there shall be

substituted “OFCOM and to providers of public electronic communications

services.”

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  71      (1)      Section 98 of that Act (use of conduits for telecommunications purposes)

shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In subsection (1), for the words “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever

occurring, there shall be substituted “electronic communications

apparatus”.

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          (3)      In subsection (5)(a), for the words “telecommunication purposes” there shall

be substituted “the purposes of any electronic communications network or

of any electronic communications service”.

  72      (1)      Section 101 of that Act (general restrictions on disclosure of information)

shall be amended as follows.

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          (2)      In subsection (2)(a)—

              (a)             the words “or transferred” shall be omitted; and

              (b)             for the words “, the Director or the Commission by or under this Act”

there shall be substituted “or OFCOM by or under this Act (except

functions assigned by or under Part 6)”.

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          (3)      In subsection (2)(b), after “the Rail Regulator” there shall be inserted

“, OFCOM”.

          (4)      In subsection (3), after paragraph (p) there shall be inserted—

                    “(q)                      the Communications Act 2003.”

          (5)      Subsection (4) shall cease to have effect.

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Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    481

 

          (6)      In subsection (6), for “the Director” there shall be substituted “OFCOM”.

  73       In section 104 of that Act (orders and schemes), after subsection (1) there

shall be inserted—

              “(1A)                Section 388 of the Communications Act 2003 (procedure for

regulations and orders made by OFCOM) applies to every power of

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OFCOM to make an order under a provision of this Act.

              (1B)                The approval of the Secretary of State is required for the making by

OFCOM of an order under section 85 or 86 above.

              (1C)                A statutory instrument containing an order made by OFCOM under

section 85 or 86 above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of

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a resolution of either House of Parliament.”

  74       In section 106(1) of that Act (general interpretation), after the definition of

“modifications” there shall be inserted—

                                      “‘OFCOM’ means the Office of Communications;”.

Cinemas Act 1985

15

  75       In section 21(1) of the Cinemas Act 1985 (c. 13) (interpretation), for the

definition of “film exhibition” there shall be substituted—

                                      “‘film exhibition’ means any exhibition of moving pictures

other than an exhibition of items included in a programme

service (within the meaning of the Communications Act

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2003) that is being simultaneously received (or virtually so)

by the exhibitor”.

Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985

  76       In section 3 of the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 (c. 49) (advertisements

about surrogacy), for “a telecommunication system”, wherever occurring,

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there shall be substituted “an electronic communications network”.

Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985

  77      (1)      Section 70 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 66) (supplies by utilities)

shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In subsection (4), for paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—

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                    “(d)                      a supply of communications services by a provider of a

public electronic communications service.”

          (3)      For subsection (5) there shall be substituted—

              “(5)                In subsection (4), ‘communications services’ do not include

electronic communications services to the extent that they are used

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to broadcast or otherwise transmit programme services (within the

meaning of the Communications Act 2003).”

Housing Act 1985

  78      (1)      The Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) shall be amended as follows.

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 17 — Minor and Consequential Amendments

    482

 

          (2)      In section 295(2)(b) (extinguishment of other rights over land acquired), for

“telecommunications systems” there shall be substituted “electronic

communications networks”.

          (3)      In section 298(2) and (3) (telecommunications apparatus)—

              (a)             for “telecommunication apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall

5

be substituted “electronic communications apparatus”;

              (b)             for “a telecommunications code system”, wherever occurring, there

shall be substituted “an electronic communications code network”;

              (c)             for “the telecommunications code”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “the electronic communications code”;

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              (d)             for “the system” and “a system” there shall be substituted,

respectively, “the network” and “a network”.

Airports Act 1986

  79       In section 62 of the Airports Act 1986 (c. 31) (provisions as to

telecommunication apparatus)—

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              (a)             for “the telecommunications code”, wherever occurring, there shall

be substituted “the electronic communications code”;

              (b)             for “telecommunication apparatus” and “telecommunications

apparatus”, wherever occurring, there shall be substituted

“electronic communications apparatus”;

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              (c)             for “a telecommunications code system”, wherever occurring, there

shall be substituted “an electronic communications code network”;

              (d)             in subsection (3), for “that system” there shall be substituted “that

network”.

Gas Act 1986

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  80       In section 4AA(4)(b) of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) (general duties of Secretary

of State and Authority), for sub-paragraph (i) there shall be substituted—

                    “(i)                      communications services and electronic communications

apparatus, or”.

Insolvency Act 1986

30

  81      (1)      The Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) shall be amended as follows.

          (2)      In section 233 (supplies of telecommunications services etc. in cases of

administration or liquidation)—

              (a)             in subsection (3), for paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—

                           “(d)                             a supply of communications services by a provider of

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a public electronic communications service.”;

              (b)             in subsection (5), for paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—

                           “(d)                             ‘communications services’ do not include electronic

communications services to the extent that they are

used to broadcast or otherwise transmit programme

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services (within the meaning of the Communications

Act 2003).”

          (3)      In section 372 (supplies of telecommunications services etc. in cases of

bankruptcy)—

              (a)             in subsection (4), for paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—

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