31Renewal of national radio licences
(1)In section 103A of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (renewal of national licences), in subsection (1), after “renewed” insert “under this section”.
(2)After that section insert—
“103BFurther renewal of national licences
(1)A national licence may be renewed under this section on one occasion for a period of not more than 7 years beginning with the date of renewal (“the renewal period”) (subject to the following provisions of this section).
(2)Subsections (2) to (9), (11) and (12) of section 103A apply in relation to the renewal of a licence under this section as they apply in relation to the renewal of a licence under section 103A, subject to subsection (3).
(3)Those provisions apply in relation to the renewal of a licence under this section as if the following were omitted—
(a)subsection (4)(b),
(b)in subsection (4)(c), the words from “or OFCOM” to the end,
(c)subsection (6)(a),
(d)subsection (8)(a), and
(e)subsection (9)(c).
(4)Where OFCOM renew a licence under this section they must include in the licence as renewed a condition requiring the licence holder to do all that the licence holder can to secure the broadcasting of a simulcast radio service in digital form throughout the renewal period.”
(3)Section 103A(12) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as applied by section 103B of that Act) does not prevent the determination of a date falling less than one year after the making of the determination where—
(a)the Office of Communications consider that the relevant date for the purposes of that section (as applied) is a date which is not more than 15 months after the day on which this section comes into force, and
(b)the determination is made as soon as practicable after that day.