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Part 2U.K.Networks, services and the radio spectrum

Chapter 1U.K.Electronic communications networks and services

Access-related conditionsU.K.

73Permitted subject-matter of access-related conditionsU.K.

(1)The only conditions that may be set under section 45 as access-related conditions are those authorised by this section.

(2)Access-related conditions may include conditions relating to the provision of such network access and service interoperability as appears to OFCOM appropriate for the purpose of securing—

(a)efficiencyF1...;

(b)sustainable competition F2...; F3...

[F4(ba)efficient investment and innovation; and]

(c)the greatest possible benefit for the end-users of public electronic communications services.

(3)Access-related conditions may include conditions appearing to OFCOM to be appropriate for securing that persons to whom the electronic communications code applies participateF5... in arrangements for—

(a)sharing the use of electronic communications apparatus; and

(b)apportioning and making contributions towards costs incurred in relation to shared electronic communications apparatus.

[F6(3A)The power to set access-related conditions falling within subsection (3) is to be exercised for the purpose of—

(a)encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure; and

(b)promoting innovation.]

F7(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)Access-related conditions may include conditions containing any provision required by section 75(2).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1S. 73 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I2S. 73 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

74Specific types of access-related conditionsU.K.

(1)The conditions that may be set by virtue of section 73(2) include conditions which, for the purpose of securing end-to-end connectivity for the end-users of public electronic communications services provided by means of a series of electronic communications networks—

(a)impose obligations on a person controlling network access to any of those networks; and

(b)require the interconnection of the networks.

[F8(1A)The conditions that may be set by virtue of section 73(2) also include conditions which impose such obligations on a person controlling network access to customers as OFCOM consider necessary for the purpose of securing service interoperability.]

(2)The conditions that may be set by virtue of section 73(2) also include such conditions imposing obligations on a person providing facilities for the use of application programme interfaces or electronic programme guides as OFCOM consider to be necessary for securing—

(a)that persons are able to have access to such programme services provided in digital form as OFCOM may determine; and

(b)that the facility for using those interfaces or guides is provided on terms which—

(i)are fair and reasonable; and

(ii)do not involve, or tend to give rise to, any undue discrimination against any person or description of persons.

(3)In this section—

(4)The matters mentioned in subsection (3), in the definition of “application programme interface”, are—

(a)allowing a person to have access to programme services;

(b)allowing a person, other than a communications provider or a person who makes associated facilities available, to make use of an electronic communications network by means of which a programme service is broadcast or otherwise transmitted;

(c)allowing a person to become the end-user of a description of public electronic communications service.

(5)This section is not to be construed as restricting the provision that may be made under section 73(2).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3S. 74 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I4S. 74 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

75Conditional access systems and access to digital servicesU.K.

F9(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)It shall be the duty of OFCOM to ensure—

(a)that access-related conditions are applied to every person who provides a conditional access system in relation to a protected programme service; and

(b)that those conditions make all such provision as is required by the provision contained from time to time in Part I of Annex I to the Access Directive (conditions relating to access to digital programme services).

(3)In this section—

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5S. 75 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I6S. 75 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

76Modification and revocation of conditions imposed under s. 75U.K.

(1)This section applies in the case of conditions falling within section 75(2) which have been set by OFCOM in relation to a particular person (“the system provider”).

(2)OFCOM must not give effect to a proposal to modify or revoke any of the conditions unless—

(a)they have carried out an analysis for the purpose of determining in accordance with this Chapter whether that person is or remains a person on whom SMP services conditions are capable of being imposed;

(b)they have determined in consequence of that analysis that he is not; and

(c)they are satisfied that the modification or revocation will not have an adverse effect on any or all of the matters mentioned in subsection (3).

(3)Those matters are—

(a)the accessibility to any persons of services that are for the time being included in the list of must-carry services in section 64;

(b)the prospects for effective competition in the market for programme services provided by being broadcast or otherwise transmitted in digital form; and

(c)the prospects for effective competition in the markets for conditional access systems and other associated facilities.

(4)In this section “conditional access system” has the same meaning as in section 75.

Commencement Information

I7S. 76 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I8S. 76 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

[F1076A.Information about electronic communications apparatus available for shared useU.K.

(1)OFCOM may make available to such persons as they consider appropriate information about electronic communications apparatus that in OFCOM’s opinion is suitable for shared use.

(2)OFCOM may impose such restrictions as they consider appropriate on the use and further disclosure of information made available under this section.]