Communications Act 2003

1 Functions and general powers of OFCOM

(1) The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) shall have the following functions—

(a) the functions transferred to OFCOM under section 2; and

(b) such other functions as may be conferred on OFCOM by or under any enactment (including this Act).

(2) OFCOM shall also have any functions in relation to telephone numbers that are conferred on them by the law of the Isle of Man or of any of the Channel Islands.

(3) OFCOM may do anything which appears to them to be incidental or conducive to the carrying out of their functions, including borrow money.

(4) OFCOM are not to borrow money except with the consent of the Secretary of State, or in accordance with a general authorisation given by him.

(5) OFCOM’s powers under subsection (3) include, in particular—

(a) power to undertake research and development work in connection with any matter in relation to which they have functions;

(b) power to promote the carrying out of such research and development by others, or otherwise to arrange for it to be carried out by others;

(c) power to institute and carry on criminal proceedings in England and Wales or Northern Ireland for an offence relating to a matter in relation to which they have functions; and

(d) power, in such cases and in such circumstances as they may think fit, to make payments (where no legal liability arises) to persons adversely affected by the carrying out by OFCOM of any of their functions.

(6) In exercise of their powers under subsection (3), OFCOM must establish and maintain separate offices in each of the following parts of the United Kingdom—

(a) England;

(b) Wales;

(c) Scotland; and

(d) Northern Ireland.

(7) Part 2 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 (c. 40) (contracting out) is to have effect in relation to the functions conferred on OFCOM by or under any enactment as if—

(a) OFCOM were an office holder within the meaning of that Part; and

(b) a power of OFCOM to make subordinate legislation were excluded from section 69 of that Act to the extent only that it is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(8) In this section “telephone numbers” has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 2.