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Communications Bill


Communications Bill
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                   imposes requirements on one or both of the parties to the agreement that

correspond to those for the purposes of which the agreement was originally

entered into.

          (3)      In any such case, the agreement shall have effect in relation to times after the

abolition of licensing as if references in the agreement to a Schedule 2 public

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operator were references to the provider of a public electronic

communications network.

          (4)      In this paragraph “Schedule 2 public operator” has the same meaning as in

Schedule 1 to the Telecommunications (Licence Modifications) (Standard

Schedules) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2450).

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          (5)      Expressions used in this paragraph and in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of this Act

have the same meanings in this paragraph as in that Chapter.

Fees for approvals for the purposes of licence conditions

  11      (1)      This paragraph has effect where a general condition set under section 41 of

this Act requires apparatus to be approved by reference to a standard

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previously designated for the purposes of section 24(6) of the 1984 Act.

          (2)      The Secretary of State may by order provide for the charging of fees in

respect of the giving of approvals for the purposes of the condition.

          (3)      Fees charged under this section are be paid to the person giving the

approvals and, to the extent authorised by the Secretary of State, may be

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retained by that person.

          (4)      To the extent that they are not retained by that person, the fees must be paid into the

Consolidated Fund.

          (5)      Any order made under section 24(13) of the 1984 Act that is in force

immediately before the coming into force of the repeal of section 24 of that

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Act shall have effect after the coming into force of the repeal as an order

made under this paragraph.

Allocated telephone numbers

  12      (1)      Where immediately before the abolition of licensing telephone numbers are

allocated to a person holding a licence under section 7 of the 1984 Act for the

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purposes of the conditions of that licence, those numbers shall be treated,

after the abolition of licensing as allocated to that person for the purposes of

general conditions such as are mentioned in section 54 of this Act.

          (2)      An allocation having effect by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) may be

withdrawn by OFCOM at any time, but only in accordance with section 57

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of this Act.

          (3)      An allocation shall only continue to have effect in accordance with this

paragraph for so long as the person to whom the allocation was made for the

purposes of the licence conditions is a communications provider.

          (4)      The power by virtue of section 54 for general conditions to make provision

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for the making of periodic payments in respect of the allocation of telephone

numbers shall be exercisable, at any time after the coming into force of that

section, in relation to an allocation having effect by virtue of this paragraph

as it has effect in relation to an allocation made under that section.

          (5)      Expressions used in this paragraph and in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of this Act

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have the same meanings in this paragraph as in that Chapter.

 

 

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Electronic communications code

  13      (1)      Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, immediately before the coming into force

of section 102 of this Act, the telecommunications code set out in Schedule 2

to the 1984 Act applies to a person by virtue of the provisions of his licence

under section 7 of that Act.

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          (2)      That person shall be treated after the commencement of section 102 of this

Act as a person in whose case the electronic communications code applies by

virtue of a direction given by OFCOM.

          (3)      The deemed direction shall be assumed to be one given in relation to so

much of any electronic communications network as—

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              (a)             was included immediately before the commencement of section 102

of this Act in the telecommunication system which was the

operator’s system for the purposes of the application of the code; or

              (b)             which would have been so included if it had been being provided at

that time.

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          (4)      So much of the code in Schedule 2 to the 1984 Act as has effect immediately

before the commencement of Schedule 3 to this Act—

              (a)             in relation to telecommunication apparatus, or

              (b)             in relation a telecommunication system,

                   is to have effect after the commencement of that Schedule in relation to so

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much of the apparatus or system as is electronic communications apparatus

or the operator’s network for the purposes of the application of that

Schedule to this Act by virtue of this paragraph or section 102(3)(b) of this

Act.

          (5)      A right which for the purposes of the code in Schedule 2 to the 1984 Act has

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effect immediately before the commencement of Schedule 3 to this Act as

conferred for purposes connected with the provision of a

telecommunication service is to have effect after the commencement of that

Schedule as conferred for the purposes of the corresponding electronic

communications service.

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          (6)      Any agreement which, immediately before the repeal of the provisions

contained in section 10(3A) and (3B) of the 1984 Act or section 189 of the 1990

Act, is a relevant agreement for the purposes of those provisions shall be

deemed in relation to times after the coming into force of that repeal to be a

relevant agreement for the purposes of paragraph 29 of the electronic

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communications code.

          (7)      In this paragraph “the electronic communications code” has the same

meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of this Act.

Compulsory purchase

  14       Where—

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              (a)             a compulsory purchase order made under section 34 or 35 of the 1984

Act,

              (b)             a vesting order, or an application for a vesting order, made under

section 36 of that Act, or

              (c)             an authorisation given by the Secretary of State under section 37, 38

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or 39 of that Act,

 

 

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           is effective immediately before the commencement of Schedule 4 to this Act,

it is to have effect after the commencement of that Schedule as if made or

given under that Schedule.

Notices under section 1D of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949

  15      (1)      This paragraph applies to procedures set out in a notice given by the

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Secretary of State under section 1D of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949

(c. 54) and in force immediately before the commencement of sub-paragraph

(4) of paragraph 8 of Schedule 17 to this Act.

          (2)      In relation to times after the commencement of that sub-paragraph, the

procedures are to have effect as if prescribed by OFCOM by regulations

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under section 1D(3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

          (3)      So much of any notice having effect in accordance with this paragraph as

authorises or requires anything to be done by or in relation to the Secretary

of State is to have effect in relation to times after the commencement of

paragraph 8 of Schedule 17 to this Act as if it authorised or required that

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thing to be done by or in relation to OFCOM.

Notices under regulations under section 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998

  16      (1)      This paragraph applies to procedures set out in a notice issued by the

Secretary of State under regulations under section 3 of the Wireless

Telegraphy Act 1998 (c. 6) and in force immediately before the

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commencement of section 162 of this Act.

          (2)      In relation to times after the commencement of section 162 of this Act, the

procedures are to have effect as if prescribed by OFCOM by regulations

under section 3 of that Act.

          (3)      So much of any notice having effect in accordance with this paragraph as

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authorises or requires anything to be done by or in relation to the Secretary

of State is to have effect in relation to times after the commencement of

section 162 of this Act as if it authorised or required that thing to be done by

or in relation to OFCOM.

Disputes referred to the Director

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  17      (1)      Where—

              (a)             before the revocation by this Act of the Telecommunications

(Interconnection) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2931) a dispute was

referred to the Director under regulation 6 of those regulations, and

              (b)             that dispute has not been resolved when the revocation comes into

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force,

                   Chapter 3 of Part 2 of this Act is to have effect as if that dispute were a

dispute which, immediately after the commencement of section 180 of this

Act, was referred to OFCOM under that section.

          (2)      Where the Director gave a direction under regulation 6 of those Regulations

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at any time before the coming into force of their revocation, the direction is

to continue, after the revocation comes into force, to have effect and be

enforceable in accordance with paragraph 9 of this Schedule to the extent

that it is continued in force under this paragraph.

 

 

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          (3)      The direction is continued in force under this paragraph only where

OFCOM have at any time after the passing of this Act given notice to the

persons to whom it applies that it is continued in force.

          (4)      OFCOM are to give such a notice only if they consider, having regard to the

terms of the direction and the provisions of Part 2 of this Act, that it is

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appropriate to do so.

          (5)      OFCOM may at any time by notice to the person to whom it applies revoke

a direction that has effect in accordance with a notice under sub-paragraph

(3).

Section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984

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  18      (1)      Subject to sub-paragraph (2), provisions of Schedule 17 to this Act amending

section 94 of the 1984 Act do not affect—

              (a)             the continuation, after the coming into force of the amendment, of

any duty of a person previously given a direction under that section

to give effect to it; or

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              (b)             the power of the Secretary of State after the amendment comes into

force to make grants under subsection (6) of that section to such a

person.

          (2)      A direction under that section which was given to the Director before the

relevant transfer date shall have effect in relation to times on and after that

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date as if it were a direction to OFCOM.

          (3)      In sub-paragraph (2) “the relevant transfer date” means the date of the

coming into force of the provisions of Schedule 17 to this Act substituting

“OFCOM” for “the Director” in section 94(8) of the 1984 Act.

Competition Commission: specialist panel members

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  19       The persons who—

              (a)             have been appointed as members of the Competition Commission by

the Secretary of State under section 13(10) of the 1984 Act, and

              (b)             hold office immediately before the date on which section 189 comes

into force,

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           shall continue to hold office as members of the Competition Commission as

if they had been appointed to that office by the Secretary of State under

section 189(1).

Activities of the Welsh Authority

  20      (1)      No approval shall be required under section 200 for the continued provision

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after the commencement of that section of any service that was being

provided by the Welsh Authority immediately before the commencement of

that section.

          (2)      Where any activities are being carried on immediately before the

commencement of section 201 by the Welsh Authority, no approval is

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required under that section in respect of the continued carrying on of the

activities by the Authority.

          (3)      Where any activities are being carried on immediately before the

commencement of section 201 by an S4C company, no approval is required

 

 

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          (3)      under that section in respect of the carrying on after that commencement by

that company or another S4C company of those activities.

Gaelic Broadcasting

  21       The persons who are members of Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig

immediately before the date on which section 203 comes into force—

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              (a)             shall continue to hold office as members of Seirbheis nam

Meadhanan Gàidhlig as if they had been appointed to that office by

OFCOM;

              (b)             shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of their

appointment by the ITC;

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              (c)             shall hold office for the period for which they were appointed by the

ITC; and

              (d)             after the end of that period, shall be eligible for re-appointment as

members of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig.

  22      (1)      The continuance in force of the Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of

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Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/2758) made under section 32 of

the 1996 Act is not affected by the amendment of that section by Schedule 15

to this Act.

          (2)      But in relation to times after the television transfer date, that order shall have

effect as if—

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              (a)             the reference in that order to the ITC were a reference to OFCOM;

and

              (b)             the reference to the application of section 28 of the 1996 Act to a

frequency were omitted.

Pre-transfer Broadcasting Act licences

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  23      (1)      Subject to any express provision made by this Act in relation to a particular

description of Broadcasting Act licence, neither—

              (a)             the transfer from a pre-commencement regulator to OFCOM of the

function of granting or awarding such licences or of any other power

exercisable in relation to such licences, nor

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              (b)             any other modification by or by virtue of this Act of the power to

grant or award such licences or of a provision having effect in

relation to such licences,

                   shall affect the continuing validity of a licence by or under which the

provision of a service is authorised immediately before the coming into force

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of the transfer or modification.

          (2)      Accordingly, such a licence shall continue to have effect, after the coming

into force of the transfer or modification—

              (a)             on the same terms and conditions and for the same period as it

would have done if this Act had not been passed; but

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              (b)             as if, in relation to times after the coming into force of any relevant

transfer of functions to OFCOM, every reference in the licence to a

pre-commencement regulator were a reference to OFCOM.

          (3)      Sub-paragraph (2) is subject to the following provisions of this Act—

              (a)             those under which a licence is to have effect as if the period for which

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it is granted were the period determined under this Act; and

 

 

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              (b)             those under which the conditions of a licence fall to be varied for the

purpose of imposing a condition required by this Act.

          (4)      Anything done at any time before the relevant transfer date under or for the

purposes of enforcing any provision of a Broadcasting Act licence is to have

effect in relation to times on or after that date—

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              (a)             to the extent that it was done by or in relation to the ITC or Radio

Authority, and

              (b)             so far as necessary for preserving its effect or for facilitating the

taking of further action by OFCOM,

                   as a thing done by or in relation to OFCOM.

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          (5)      In sub-paragraph (4) “relevant transfer date”—

              (a)             in relation to licences under Part 1 of the 1990 Act or Part 1 of the 1996

Act, means the television transfer date; and

              (b)             in relation to licences under Part 3of the 1990 Act or Part 2of the 1996

Act, means the radio transfer date.

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Channels 3 and 5

  24       A determination made by the ITC under or for the purposes of section 14 or

28 of the 1990 Act (Channels 3 and 5) is to have effect on and after the

television transfer date as a determination under that section by OFCOM.

Saving pending replacement of licences for Channels 3 and 5 and the public teletext service

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  25      (1)      The regulatory regime for a Channel 3 service, and that for Channel 5 and

the existing teletext service, shall not include the self-regulation conditions

in any case in which the service or (as the case may be) Channel 5 is provided

under a licence granted before the television transfer date.

          (2)      In sub-paragraph (1) “the self-regulation conditions” means the conditions

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which (apart from that subsection) are included by virtue of sections 257 to

261 of this Act in the regulatory regime for Channel 3 services, for Channel

5 and for the public teletext service.

          (3)      In relation to a licence granted before the television transfer date for a

Channel 3 service, Channel 5 or the existing teletext service, section 255 shall

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have effect as if the reference in subsection (3)(a) of that section to

corresponding or additional service to be provided in analogue form were a

reference to a corresponding or additional service to be provided in digital

form.

          (4)      In this paragraph “the existing teletext service” means “the existing service

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within the meaning of section 216 of this Act.

Digital additional licences

  26      (1)      This paragraph applies where immediately before the coming into force of

section 236 of this Act a person holds a digital additional services licence

under Part 1 of the 1996 Act in respect of a digital sound programme service

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and with a view to the inclusion of the broadcasting of that service by means

of a television multiplex service licensed under Part 1 of the 1996 Act.

          (2)      The licence is to have effect on and after the coming into force of section 236

of this Act as if it were a national digital sound programme licence or (as the

 

 

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          (2)      case may be) were comprised in any national digital sound programme

licence already held by the licence holder for the service in question.

          (3)      Where a licence has effect in accordance with this paragraph, it shall not (to

the extent that it so has effect) authorise the broadcasting of the digital sound

programme service in question by means of a radio multiplex service.

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          (4)      In this paragraph—

               “digital additional services licence” has the same meaning as in Part 1

of the 1996 Act; and

               “national digital sound programme licence” has the same meaning as

in Part 2 of that Act.

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Programme quotas

  27       Any order which—

              (a)             was made under section 16(5)(a) of the 1990 Act (definitions of

“qualifying programmes” and “independent productions”), and

              (b)             is in force immediately before the commencement of sections 269 and

15

298 of this Act and paragraphs 1 and 7 of Schedule 12 to this Act,

           is to have effect in relation to times after the commencement of those sections

and those paragraphs as an order made in exercise of the corresponding

powers conferred by those sections and those paragraphs.

Nomination of persons eligible for appointment as news providers

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  28       A nomination by the ITC which is in force immediately before the television

transfer date for the purposes of section 31(2) of the 1990 Act is to have effect

on and after that date (but so far only as is necessary for the purposes of

provision made by virtue of section 272 of this Act) as a nomination by

OFCOM for the purposes of that section of this Act.

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Networking arrangements

  29      (1)      Where arrangements approved for the purposes of section 39 of the 1990 Act

(networking arrangements) are in force immediately before the

commencement of section 281 of this Act, those arrangements are to have

effect for the purposes of this Act, and of any conditions imposed under that

30

section of this Act, as approved networking arrangements.

          (2)      For the purposes of proceedings in relation to a report under Schedule 4 to

the 1990 Act at any time after the commencement of Schedule 11 to this Act,

that report is to have effect as if it were a report under that Schedule to this

Act.

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Determination of qualifying revenue

  30      (1)      A statement of the ITC that is for the time being in force immediately before

the television transfer date for the purposes of—

              (a)             Schedule 7 to the 1990 Act (statement of principles for determining

qualifying revenue), or

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              (b)             Schedule 1 to the 1996 Act (corresponding statement for the

purposes of that Act,

                   is to have effect on and after that date as a statement by OFCOM.

 

 

 
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