S. 13 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/13/2004-06-30Communications 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 Participation2004-06-30Communications Act 2003specified provision(s)The Office of Communications Act 2002 (Commencement No. 3) and Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2003art. 1(3)Communications Act 2003s. 368E(5)(d)(e)Digital Economy Act 2017s. 94(3)s. 118(6)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A Pt. 4ZAProduct Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022s. 67(1)s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A para. 103(1)(ca)Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022s. 70s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A para. 119AProduct Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022s. 72s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003s. 148A and cross-headingProduct Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022s. 73(2)s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003s. 402(2A)(za)(zb)Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022Sch. para. 2s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A para. 21(6)Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022Sch. para. 3(5)(b)s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A para. 37(3)(aza)Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022Sch. para. 3(9)s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 3A para. 84(1)(aza)Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022Sch. para. 3(10)s. 79(2)Communications Act 2003specified provision(s)Office of Communications Act 2002 (Commencement No. 3) and Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2004art. 2Communications Act 2003specified provision(s)Office of Communications Act 2002 (Commencement No. 3) and Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2004art. 2Communications Act 2003specified provision(s)Office of Communications Act 2002 (Commencement No. 3) and Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2004art. 2Communications Act 2003Sch. 4 para. 3(6A)(6B)Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 338(2)(b)Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 4 para. 6(4A)(4B)Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 338(3)(b)Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Communications Act 2003Sch. 4 para. 6(8)Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 338(3)(d)Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Communications Act 2003s. 319(10)-(11B)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 2s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Communications Act 2003s. 368F(1)(aa)(ab)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 3(2)s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Communications Act 2003s. 368F(1A)(1B)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 3(3)s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Communications Act 2003s. 368H(4)(ba)-(bh)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 5(2)(b)s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Communications Act 2003s. 368H(15A)-(15BB)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 5(3)s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Communications Act 2003Sch. 11A para. 4(ba)-(bh)Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026Sch. 16 para. 7(2)(b)s. 166s. 176(2)(c)Part 1Functions of OFCOMOFCOM’s Content Board
13Functions of the Content Board(1)

The Content Board shall have such functions as OFCOM, in exercise of their powers under the Schedule to the Office of Communications Act 2002 (c. 11), may confer on the Board.

(2)

The functions conferred on the Board must include, to such extent and subject to such restrictions and approvals as OFCOM may determine, the carrying out on OFCOM’s behalf of—

(a)

functions in relation to matters that concern the contents of anything which is or may be broadcast or otherwise transmitted by means of electronic communications networks; and

(b)

functions in relation to the promotion of public understanding or awareness of matters relating to the publication of matter by means of the electronic media.

(3)

In determining what functions to confer on the Content Board, OFCOM must have particular regard to the desirability of securing that the Board have at least a significant influence on decisions which—

(a)

relate to the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and

(b)

involve the consideration of different interests and other factors as respects different parts of the United Kingdom.

(4)

It shall be the duty of the Content Board to ensure, in relation to—

(a)

the carrying out of OFCOM’s functions under Part 3 of this Act, Parts 1 and 3 of the 1990 Act and Parts 1 and 2 of the 1996 Act,

(b)

the matters with respect to which functions are conferred on the Board, and

(c)

such other matters mentioned in subsection (2) as OFCOM may determine,

that OFCOM are aware of the different interests and other factors which, in the Board’s opinion, need to be taken into account as respects the different parts of the United Kingdom in relation to the carrying out of OFCOM’s functions.

(5)

The power of OFCOM to determine the Content Board’s functions includes power to authorise the Board to establish committees and panels to advise the Board on the carrying out of some or all of the Board’s functions.

(6)

The power of OFCOM to authorise the establishment of a committee or panel by the Content Board includes power to authorise the establishment of a committee or panel that includes persons who are not members of the Board.

(7)

In this section references to the publication of anything by means of the electronic media are references to its being—

(a)

broadcast so as to be available for reception by members of the public or of a section of the public; or

(b)

distributed by means of an electronic communications network to members of the public or of a section of the public.