- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Communications Act 2003. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
[F1108(1)In this code—U.K.
“agriculture” and “agricultural”—
in relation to England and Wales, have the same meanings as in the Highways Act 1980,
in relation to Scotland, have the same meanings as in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, and
in relation to Northern Ireland, have the same meanings as in the Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949;
“bridleway” and “footpath”—
in relation to England and Wales, have the same meanings as in the Highways Act 1980,
in relation to Scotland, have the same meanings as Part 3 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967, and
in relation to Northern Ireland, mean a way over which the public have, by virtue of the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (SI 1983/1895 (NI 18)), a right of way (respectively) on horseback and on foot;
“code agreement” has the meaning given by paragraph 29(5);
“Crown interest” has the meaning given by paragraph 104(2) and (3);
“enactment” includes—
an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978,
an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales,
an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament, and
an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, Northern Ireland legislation;
“land” does not include electronic communications apparatus;
“landowner” has the meaning given by paragraph 37(1);
[F2“lease” includes—
in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, any leasehold tenancy (whether in the nature of a head lease, sub-lease or underlease) and any agreement to grant such a tenancy but not a mortgage by demise or sub-demise, and
in relation to Scotland, any sub-lease and any agreement to grant a sub-lease,
and “lessee” is to be construed accordingly;]
[F2“lease”—
in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, includes—
any head lease, sub-lease or underlease,
any tenancy (including a sub-tenancy), and
any agreement to grant any such lease or tenancy,
but does not include a mortgage by demise or sub-demise;
in relation to Scotland, includes any sub-lease and any agreement to grant a sub-lease,
and “leased premises” and “lessee” are to be read accordingly;]
[F3“Part 4A code right” has the meaning given by paragraph 27E(3);]
“relevant person” has the meaning given by paragraph 20(1);
“restricted byway” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000;
“road”—
in relation to Scotland, has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;
in relation to Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as in the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (SI 1993/3160 (NI 15));
“site provider” has the meaning given by paragraph 30(1);
“street”—
in relation to England and Wales, has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and
in relation to Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as in the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (SI 1995/3210 (NI 19)).
(2)In this code, references to the alteration of any apparatus include references to the moving, removal or replacement of the apparatus.]
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 3A inserted (31.7.2017 for the purpose of making regulations under Sch. 3A para. 95, 22.11.2017 but only in relation to Sch. 3A para. 106, 28.12.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), s. 118(6), Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2); S.I. 2017/765, reg. 2(ii)(jj); S.I. 2017/1136, reg. 2; S.I. 2017/1286, reg. 2(b)
F2Words in Sch. 3A para. 108(1) substituted (15.3.2021 for specified purposes, 26.12.2022 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 1.7.2023 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 (c. 7), s. 3(3)(b)(4), Sch. para. 4(12)(a); S.I. 2022/1308, reg. 3(c)
F3Words in Sch. 3A para. 108(1) inserted (15.3.2021 for specified purposes, 26.12.2022 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 1.7.2023 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 (c. 7), s. 3(3)(b)(4), Sch. para. 4(12)(b); S.I. 2022/1308, reg. 3(c)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: