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Communications Bill


Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

    518

 

          (2)      On and after the television transfer date a determination by the ITC under

paragraph 2 of Part 1 of either of those Schedules is to have effect as a

determination under that paragraph by OFCOM, and sub-paragraph (2) of

that paragraph is to have effect accordingly.

Rules for political broadcasts

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  31       Where—

              (a)             rules made by the ITC for the purposes of section 36 of the 1990 Act

(party political broadcasts on Channel 3, Channel 4 or Channel 5), or

              (b)             rules made by the Radio Authority for the purposes of section 107 of

the 1990 Act (party political broadcasts on national radio services),

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           are in force immediately before the commencement of section 321 of this Act,

those rules are to have effect after its commencement as rules made by

OFCOM for the purposes of that section of this Act.

Functions under section 88 of the 1990 Act

  32       A requirement imposed or notice given before the radio transfer date by the

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Radio Authority under section 88 of the 1990 Act (restriction on holding of

licences) is to have effect on and after that date as if it were imposed or given

by OFCOM.

Notices under section 94 of the 1990 Act

  33       A notice given by the Secretary of State or any other Minister of the Crown

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under section 94 of the 1990 Act (government control over licensed services)

is to have effect on and after the radio transfer date as a notice given to

OFCOM under section 324 of this Act.

Programme standards: television

  34      (1)      This paragraph applies as respects times on or after the television transfer

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date and before the first coming into force, in the case of the holder of a

licence under Part 1 of the 1990 Act or Part 1 of the 1996 Act, of conditions

imposed under section 313 of this Act.

          (2)      Sections 6 to 12 of the 1990 Act (general provisions about the content of

licensed services) are to have effect in the case of that licence holder as if

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references in those sections to the ITC were references to OFCOM.

          (3)      A code drawn up by the ITC under section 6, 7 or 9 of the 1990 Act is to have

effect as if it had been drawn up by OFCOM.

Programme standards: radio

  35      (1)      This paragraph applies as respects times on or after the radio transfer date

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and before the first coming into force, in the case of the holder of a licence

under Part 3 of the 1990 Act or Part 2 of the 1996 Act, of conditions imposed

under section 313 of this Act.

          (2)      Sections 90 to 96 of the 1990 Act (general provisions about the content of

licensed services) are to have effect as if references in those sections to the

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Radio Authority were references to OFCOM.

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

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          (3)      A code drawn up by the Radio Authority under section 90, 91 or 93 of the

1990 Act is to have effect as if it had been drawn up by OFCOM.

Standards code

  36      (1)      In relation to any time after the commencement of section 307 of this Act, a

code in force immediately before its commencement as a code drawn up

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under section 6, 7, 9, 90, 91 or 93 of the 1990 Act or section 108 of the 1996 Act

is to have effect (subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3)) as if it were a code

issued by OFCOM for the purpose of setting standards under section 307 of

this Act.

          (2)      A code under the 1990 Act have effect by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) in

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relation only to the following—

              (a)             in the case of the codes under sections 6, 7 and 9, services the

provision of which is authorised by licences under Part 1 of the 1990

Act and S4C, and

              (b)             in the case of the codes under sections 90, 91 and 93, services the

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provision of which is authorised by licences under Part 3 of that Act.

          (3)      In the case of the code under section 108 of the 1996 Act, the code shall have

effect by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)—

              (a)             in relation only to services provided by the BBC or the Welsh

Authority; and

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              (b)             to the extent only that it contains provision that applies to those

services and, in the case of services provided by the Welsh Authority,

relates to matters other than advertising and impartiality.

Local and national radio licences licences

  37      (1)      Section 103 of the 1990 Act (restriction on changes of control affecting

25

holders of national licences) is to apply in relation to a pre-transfer national

licence as it applies in relation to a national licence within the meaning of

Part 3 of the 1990 Act.

          (2)      Anything done by or in relation to the Radio Authority under any of sections

98 to 102 or 103A of the 1990 Act, so far as it has been done—

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              (a)             before the radio transfer date, and

              (b)             for the purposes of, in connection with, the grant or renewal of a pre-

transfer national licence,

                   is to have effect for the purposes of, and in connection with, the grant or

renewal of a licence at times on or after that date as if done by or in relation

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to OFCOM in connection with or for the purposes of the grant or renewal of

national licence (within the meaning of Part 3 of that Act).

          (3)      Anything done by or in relation to the Radio Authority under any of sections

104 to 105 of the 1990 Act, so far as it has been done—

              (a)             before the radio transfer date, and

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              (b)             for the purposes of, or in connection with, the grant or renewal of a

pre-transfer local licence,

                   is to have effect for the purposes of, and in connection with, the grant or

renewal of a licence at times on or after that date as if done by or in relation

to OFCOM in connection with, or for the purposes of, the grant or renewal

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of local licence (within the meaning of Part 3 of that Act).

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

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          (4)      In this paragraph “pre-transfer local licence” and “pre-transfer national

licence each has the same meaning as in section 247 of this Act.

Section 111B of the 1990 Act

  38      (1)      Section 111B of the 1990 Act (power to suspend satellite services) is to have

effect in relation to a licence to provide a formerly regulated radio service

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(within the meaning of section 245) as it applies in relation to a licence to

provide a radio licensable content service, but as if the reference in

subsection (1)(b) of that section to a condition included in the licence in

pursuance of the provisions there mentioned included a reference to a

condition included in the licence in pursuance of section 90(1)(a) of that Act.

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          (2)      In relation to any time falling—

              (a)             on or after the radio transfer date, and

              (b)             before the first coming into force, in the case of the holder of a licence

under Part 3 of the 1990 Act or Part 2 of the 1996 Act, of conditions

imposed under section 313 of this Act,

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                   section 111B of the 1990 Act is to have effect in relation to a licence to provide

a radio licensable content service as if the reference in subsection (1)(b) of

section 111B of that Act to a condition included in the licence in pursuance

of the provisions there mentioned were a reference to a condition included

in the licence in pursuance of section 90(1)(a) of that Act.

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Section 185 of the 1990 Act

  39      (1)      A determination or nomination made for the purposes of section 185 of the

1990 Act (the national television archive) by the ITC is to have effect on and

after the television transfer date as a determination or nomination made by

OFCOM.

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          (2)      Sub-paragraph (1) applies in the case of a determination so far only as it

relates to a financial year beginning on or after the television transfer date.

Section 28 of the 1996 Act

  40      (1)      The repeal by this Act of section 28 of the 1996 Act does not affect any power

to vary a licence under Part 1 of the 1990 Act which is—

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              (a)             conferred on the ITC by an order under that section; and

              (b)             transferred to OFCOM by this Act.

          (2)      Nor does it affect so much of any order under that section in force

immediately before the repeal as—

              (a)             modifies section 16 of the 1996 Act in its application in relation to the

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renewal of a licence first granted before the television transfer date;

or

              (b)             imposes a prohibition on the use of digital capacity reserved before

that date;

                   but so much of any such prohibition as requires the consent of the ITC for

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the use of any digital capacity shall have effect after the television transfer

date as if the consent required were OFCOM’s consent.

          (3)      Sub-paragraph (1) only saves the power so far as it is exercisable in relation

to a licence granted before the television transfer date.

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

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Section 48 of the 1996 Act

  41       Subsections (4) to (6) of section 48 of the 1996 Act (reservations of capacity

for national radio multiplex licences to independent national broadcasters)

are to apply in relation to conditions included in pursuance of that section in

licences granted before the radio transfer date as they apply in relation to

5

conditions included in licences by virtue of the amendments of that section

made by this Act.

Listed events rules

  42      (1)      Subject to sub-paragraph (2), Part 4 of the 1996 Act (sporting and other

events of national interest) is to have effect in relation to times on or after the

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television transfer date as if anything done before that date by or in relation

to the ITC had been done by or in relation to OFCOM.

          (2)      The code drawn up by the ITC under section 104 of the 1996 Act (code of

guidance as to the operation of Part 4) and in force immediately before the

commencement of section 291 of this Act is to continue to have effect

15

(notwithstanding the substitutions made by that section of this Act)—

              (a)             until the code drawn up by OFCOM under that section comes into

force; but

              (b)             in relation to times on or after the transfer date and before the coming

into force of OFCOM’s code, as if references in section 104(2) of that

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Act and in the code to the ITC were references to OFCOM.

          (3)      If a provision of sections 290 to 292 of this Act comes into force before the

television transfer date, a reference to OFCOM in an amendment made by

that provision is to be construed in relation to times before that date as a

reference to the ITC.

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          (4)      On the date on which section 290 of this Act comes into force, the Secretary

of State shall revise the list maintained for the purposes of Part 4 of the 1996

Act in order to allocate each event which is a listed event on that date either

to Group A or to Group B.

          (5)      Where—

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              (a)             the events listed in the list in force immediately before the Secretary

of State revises it under sub-paragraph (4) are treated, for any of the

purposes of the code in force under section 104 at that time, as

divided into two categories, and

              (b)             the Secretary of State’s revision under that sub-paragraph makes the

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same division,

                   section 97(2) of the 1996 Act shall not apply in relation to that revision of that

list.

          (6)      In this paragraph “the transfer date” is the date on which paragraph 13 of

Schedule 1 comes into force.

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Complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission

  43      (1)      On and after the transfer to OFCOM under this Act of the functions of the

Broadcasting Standards Commission under Part 5 of the 1996 Act, that Part

is to have effect in relation to a fairness complaint made to, but not disposed

of by, the Commission before the transfer as if—

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Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

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              (a)             anything done, or treated as done, by or in relation to the

Commission for the purposes of, or in connection with, that

complaint had been done by or in relation OFCOM; and

              (b)             those functions had been functions of OFCOM at the time when it

was done.

5

          (2)      Where immediately before the commencement of section 315 of this Act a

licence to provide a licensed service (within the meaning of Part 5 of the 1996

Act) contains a condition included in that licence by virtue of section 119(7)

of that Act (conditions requiring compliance with BSC directions), that

condition is to have effect on and after the coming into force of section 315

10

of this Act as a condition requiring the licence holder to comply with

directions given to him by OFCOM.

          (3)       In this paragraph “fairness complaint” has the same meaning as in Part 5 of

the 1996 Act.

Codes of practice drawn up by the Broadcasting Standards Commission

15

  44       The code of practice drawn up by the Broadcasting Standards Commission

under section 107 of the 1996 Act (code in respect of unjust and unfair

treatment and infringements of privacy) is to have effect on and after the

transfer under this Act to OFCOM of the Commission’s functions under Part

5 of that Act as if it were the code required to be drawn up under that section

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by OFCOM.

Media ownership provisions

  45      (1)      A determination by the ITC or the Radio Authority under paragraph 2(2) of

Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (exemptions from disqualification for

religious bodies) which is in force immediately before the relevant transfer

25

date, is to have effect on and after that date as a determination by OFCOM

under paragraph 2A of that Part of that Schedule.

          (2)      Any guidance issued by the ITC and the Radio Authority under paragraph

2(3) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act and in force immediately before

the commencement of section 335(3) of this Act is to have effect for the

30

purposes of paragraph 2A of that Part of that Schedule as guidance

published under sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 2A.

          (3)      The following powers under enactments in force before the relevant transfer

date shall be exercisable by OFCOM at all times on or after that date in

relation to a pre commencement contravention of a requirement imposed by

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or under Parts 3 to 5 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act—

              (a)             all the powers and duties of the ITC under section 5 of the 1990 Act

and section 5 of the 1996 Act;

              (b)             all the powers and duties of the Radio Authority under section 88 of

the 1990 Act and section 44 of the 1996 Act; and

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              (c)             all the other powers and duties of the ITC or the Radio Authority in

relation to contraventions of conditions imposed under section 5 or

88 of the 1990 Act or section 5 or 44 of the 1996 Act.

          (4)      For the purpose of determining whether anything occurring after the

relevant transfer date is a pre-commencement contravention of a

45

requirement imposed by or under Parts 3 to 5 of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act,

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

    523

 

          (4)      references in those Parts of that Schedule to the ITC or to the Radio

Authority are to be construed as including references to OFCOM.

          (5)      In this paragraph—

               “pre-commencement contravention” means a contravention of a

requirement which occurred before the coming into force of the

5

repeal by this Act of the provision by or under which the

requirement was imposed; and

               “the relevant transfer date”—

                     (a)                    in relation to the ITC, means the television transfer date; and

                     (b)                    in relation to the Radio Authority, means the radio transfer

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date.

TV licences

  46       A television licence granted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (c. 54)

before the coming into force of section 349 of this Act is to have effect after

the commencement of that section as a licence for the purposes of that

15

section.

Functions under the Enterprise Act 2002

  47      (1)      This section has effect in so far as, at any time before the coming into force

of section 356 of this Act, anything has been done or is treated as done by or

in relation to the Director for the purposes of, or in connection with, the

20

carrying out of any of his functions under the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40).

          (2)      That thing is to have effect on and after that date, and OFCOM may carry out

their functions and continue anything begun by that Director, as if—

              (a)             that thing had been done by or in relation to OFCOM for the

purposes of, or in connection with, their functions under that Act by

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virtue of that section; and

              (b)             the provisions conferring those functions on OFCOM had been in

force at the time it was done.

          (3)      Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to anything that could not be done by or

in relation to OFCOM for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying

30

out of their functions under the Enterprise Act 2002.

          (4)      Where by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to

something, that thing is to have effect, instead, as if done by or in relation to

the Office of Fair Trading

Functions under the Competition Act 1998

35

  48      (1)      This paragraph applies in so far as, at any time before the coming into force

of section 357 of this Act, anything has been done by or in relation to the

Director for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying out of any

of his functions under the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41).

          (2)      That thing is to have effect on and after that date, and OFCOM may carry out

40

their functions and continue anything begun by that Director, as if—

              (a)             that thing had been done by or in relation to OFCOM for the

purposes of, or in connection with, their functions under that Act by

virtue of that section; and

 

 

Communications Bill
Schedule 18 — Transitional Provisions

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              (b)             the provisions conferring those functions on OFCOM had been in

force at the time it was done.

          (3)      Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to anything that could not be done by or

in relation to OFCOM for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying

out of their functions under the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41).

5

          (4)      Where by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to

something, that thing is to have effect, instead, as if done by or in relation to

the Office of Fair Trading

  49      (1)      Where any regulations made under section 54(4) of the Competition Act

1998 (regulations about concurrent functions of regulators and the Office of

10

Fair Trading) are in force at the coming into force of section 357 of this Act,

those regulations—

              (a)             shall, from that time have effect in relation to functions exercisable

concurrently by virtue of section 357 of this Act as they have effect in

relation to functions exercisable concurrently by virtue of Part 2 of

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Schedule 10 to the Competition Act 1998; but

              (b)             shall so have effect subject to any amendments or revocations

coming into force at or after that time.

          (2)      Where, at any time before the coming into force of section 357, anything has

been done by or in relation to the Director under or for the purposes of any

20

regulations made under section 54(4) of the Competition Act 1998 that thing

is to have effect, so far as necessary for the purposes of paragraph 48 of this

Schedule, as if done by or in relation to OFCOM.

Newspaper mergers

  50      (1)      Chapter 2 of Part 5 and any related repeals shall, subject to sub-paragraph

25

(2), not apply in relation to—

              (a)             a transfer of a newspaper or of newspaper assets (within the

meaning given by section 57(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41))

which has been made before the coming into force of section 359 of

this Act; or

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              (b)             a proposed transfer of a newspaper or of newspaper assets in

relation to which an application for the consent of the Secretary of

State under section 58 of the Act of 1973 has been made before the

coming into force of section 359 of this Act.

          (2)      Chapter 2 of Part 5 and any related repeals shall apply in relation to a

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proposed transfer of a newspaper or of newspaper assets if—

              (a)             an application for the consent of the Secretary of State under section

58 of the Act of 1973 has been made;

              (b)             the application is expressed to depend on the operation of subsection

(3) or (4) of that section;

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              (c)             no consent is given by the Secretary of State under subsection (3) or

(4) of that section; and

              (d)             no further application has been made for the consent of the Secretary

of State under that section before the coming into force of section 359

of this Act.

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  51       Chapter 2 of Part 5 and any related repeals shall apply in relation to any

transfer of a newspaper or of newspaper assets which is proposed (and not

made) before the coming into force of section 359 of this Act and in relation

 

 

 
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