http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/1/2012-07-01Communications Act 2003An Act to confer functions on the Office of Communications; to make provision about the regulation of the provision of electronic communications networks and services and of the use of the electro-magnetic spectrum; to make provision about the regulation of broadcasting and of the provision of television and radio services; to make provision about mergers involving newspaper and other media enterprises and, in that connection, to amend the Enterprise Act 2002; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-01Expert Participation2012-07-01 Part 1Functions of <Abbreviation Expansion="Office of Communications">OFCOM</Abbreviation><Emphasis>Transferred and assigned functions</Emphasis>Functions and general powers of OFCOM11The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) shall have the following functions—athe functions transferred to OFCOM under section 2; andbsuch other functions as may be conferred on OFCOM by or under any enactment (including this Act).2OFCOM 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.3OFCOM may do anything which appears to them to be incidental or conducive to the carrying out of their functions, including borrow money.4OFCOM are not to borrow money except with the consent of the Secretary of State, or in accordance with a general authorisation given by him.5OFCOM’s powers under subsection (3) include, in particular—apower to undertake research and development work in connection with any matter in relation to which they have functions;bpower to promote the carrying out of such research and development by others, or otherwise to arrange for it to be carried out by others;cpower 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; anddpower, 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.6In exercise of their powers under subsection (3), OFCOM must establish and maintain separate offices in each of the following parts of the United Kingdom—aEngland;bWales;cScotland; anddNorthern Ireland.7Part 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—aOFCOM were an office holder within the meaning of that Part; andba 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.8In this section “telephone numbers” has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 2.S. 1(3) 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))S. 1(5)(c) 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))S. 1(1) (2) (4) (5)(a) (b) (d) (6)-(8) in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)S. 1(3) in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)S. 1(5)(c) in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)