http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/310/2023-02-07Communications 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 Database2026-01-13Expert Participation2023-02-07 Communications 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. 2 Part 3Chapter 43101It shall be the duty of OFCOM to draw up, and from time to time to review and revise, a code giving guidance as to the practices to be followed in the provision of electronic programme guides.2The practices required by the code must include the giving, in the manner provided for in the code, of such degree of prominence as OFCOM consider appropriate to—athe listing or promotion, or both the listing and promotion, for members of its intended audience, of the programmes included in each public service channel; andbthe facilities, in the case of each such channel, for members of its intended audience to select or access the programmes included in it.3The practices required by the code must also include the incorporation of such features in electronic programme guides as OFCOM consider appropriate for securing that persons with disabilities , in particular those affecting their sight or hearing or both —aare able, so far as practicable, to make use of such guides for all the same purposes as persons without... disabilities; andbare informed about, and are able to make use of, whatever assistance for disabled people is provided in relation to the programmes listed or promoted.4Subject to subsection (5), in subsection (2) the reference to the public service channels is a reference to any of the following—aany service of television programmes provided by the BBC in digital form so as to be available for reception by members of the public;bany Channel 3 service in digital form;cChannel 4 in digital form;dChannel 5 in digital form;eS4C Digital;fthe digital public teletext service.ga local digital television programme service;ha simulcast local service.5The Secretary of State may by order—aadd any programme service to the services for the time being specified in subsection (4) as public service channels; orbdelete a service from that subsection.6Before making an order under subsection (5) the Secretary of State must consult OFCOM.7In this section “intended audience”, in relation to a service of any description, means—aif the service is provided only for a particular area or locality of the United Kingdom, members of the public in that area or locality;bif it is provided for members of a particular community, members of that community; andcin any other case, members of the public in the United Kingdom.8In this section “electronic programme guide” means a service which consists of—athe listing or promotion, or both the listing and the promotion, of some or all of the programmes included in any one or more programme services the providers of which are or include persons other than the provider of the guide; andba facility for obtaining access, in whole or in part, to the programme service or services listed or promoted in the guide.9In this section “local digital television programme service” means any service which falls within a description of service in relation to which provision is for the time being made under section 244 (local digital television services).10In this section “simulcast local service” means a service provided in digital form and corresponding to a local digital television programme service.11For the purposes of subsection (10), a service corresponds to a local digital television programme service (“the relevant service”) if all of the programmes included in the relevant service are provided at the same time on both services.Ss. 263-271 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/3195 art. 6 Sch. 2 (31.3.2005) by Communications (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/856), arts. 1(1), 2(a)(ii)Ss. 263-271 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/3197 art. 6 Sch. 2 (31.3.2005) by Communications (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/855), arts. 1(1), 2(a)(ii)Word in Pt. 3 inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 22(4), 47(1)S. 310 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (14.2.2012) by The Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/292), arts. 1, 4, Sch. Pt. 2Words in s. 310(3) inserted (1.11.2020) by The Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1062), regs. 1(2), 11(a) (with Pt. 7)Word in s. 310(3)(a) omitted (1.11.2020) by virtue of The Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1062), regs. 1(2), 11(b) (with Pt. 7)S. 310(9)-(11) inserted (31.1.2012) by The Code of Practice for Electronic Programme Guides (Addition of Programme Services) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/3003), arts. 1, 2(b)S. 310(4)(g)(h) inserted (31.1.2012) by The Code of Practice for Electronic Programme Guides (Addition of Programme Services) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/3003), arts. 1, 2(a)Pt. 3: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2012/292, Sch. Pt. 2 (12.7.2012) by The Broadcasting (Local Digital Television Programme Services and Independent Productions) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1842), art. 4