Part 2

Networks, services and the radio spectrum
Chapter 1

Electronic communications networks and services

Information provisions

Information required from communications providers
137A
1
OFCOM
may require a communications provider—
a
to publish any information held by the provider, or
b
to provide any such information to
OFCOM
for publication by OFCOM.
2
The information that
OFCOM
may require the communications provider to publish or provide under subsection (1) includes information that
OFCOM
require the provider to produce, generate or obtain for that purpose.
3
For that purpose
OFCOM
may, in particular, require the communications provider—
a
to collect or retain any information that the provider would not otherwise collect or retain,
b
to process, collate or analyse any information held by the provider, or
c
to answer any questions.
4
The power conferred by this section may be exercised only—
a
in connection with
OFCOM
's functions—
i
under Part 1, so far as relating to electronic communications, or
ii
under this Chapter, and
b
in such a way as is proportionate to the use to which the information is to be put in connection with those functions.
5
The power conferred by this section is to be exercised by a demand, contained in a notice served on the communications provider, that—
a
describes the information required to be published or provided, and
b
sets out
OFCOM
's reasons for requiring it to be published or provided.
6
Before serving the notice on the communications provider,
OFCOM
must—
a
serve a draft of the notice on the provider and inform the provider of the period for making representations, and
b
consider any representations made by the provider within that period which—
i
identify restrictions on the disclosure or publication of information that would or might prevent the provider from complying with the notice, or
ii
otherwise relate to the practicability of complying with it.
7
The communications provider must publish or provide the information required by the notice in such manner and form, in accordance with such other requirements, and within such reasonable period, as may be specified by OFCOM.
8
Where
OFCOM
publish anything provided to them pursuant to subsection (1)(b) they must do so in such manner and form as they consider appropriate.
Ss. 137A, 137B inserted (27.6.2017) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 86(2), 118(2)