http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/336/2012-01-31Communications 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 Participation2012-01-31 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. 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 3Chapter 43361If it appears to the Secretary of State or any other Minister of the Crown to be appropriate to do so in connection with any of his functions, the Secretary of State or that Minister may at any time by notice require OFCOM to give a direction under subsection (2).2A direction under this subsection is a direction to the holders of the Broadcasting Act licences specified in the notice under subsection (1) to include an announcement so specified in their licensed services.3The direction may specify the times at which the announcement is to be broadcast or otherwise transmitted.4Where the holder of a Broadcasting Act licence includes an announcement in his licensed service in pursuance of a direction under this section, he may announce that he is doing so in pursuance of such a direction.5The Secretary of State may, at any time, by notice require OFCOM to direct the holders of the Broadcasting Act licences specified in the notice to refrain from including in their licensed services any matter, or description of matter, specified in the notice.6Where—aOFCOM have given the holder of a Broadcasting Act licence a direction in accordance with a notice under subsection (5),bin consequence of the revocation by the Secretary of State of such a notice, OFCOM have revoked such a direction, orcsuch a notice has expired,the holder of the licence in question may include in the licensed service an announcement of the giving or revocation of the direction or of the expiration of the notice, as the case may be.7OFCOM must comply with every requirement contained in a notice under this section.8The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any powers specifically conferred on the Secretary of State by or under this Act or any other enactment.9In this section “Minister of the Crown” includes the Treasury.S. 336 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)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)