http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/368BC/2017-07-31Communications 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 Participation2017-07-31 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 4A368BC1The Secretary of State may by regulations impose requirements on providers of on-demand programme services for the purpose of ensuring that their services are accessible to people with disabilities affecting their sight or hearing or both.2The requirements that may be imposed include—arequirements for programmes included in the services to be accompanied by subtitling;brequirements for such programmes to be accompanied by audio-description for the blind;crequirements for such programmes to be presented in, or translated into, sign language.3The steps set out in subsections (4) to (6) must be taken before regulations are made under this section.4The Secretary of State must ask the appropriate regulatory authority to consult such persons as appear to the authority likely to be affected by regulations under this section, including—aproviders of on-demand programme services, andbrepresentatives of people with disabilities affecting their sight or hearing or both.5The appropriate regulatory authority must inform the Secretary of State of—athe outcome of the consultation, andbany other matters that they think should be taken into account by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the regulations.6Where OFCOM are not the appropriate regulatory authority, the Secretary of State must consult OFCOM.7A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.Pt. 4A inserted (19.12.2009) by Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2979), regs. 1(1), 2Ss. 368BC, 368BD and cross-heading inserted (31.7.2017) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 93(2), 118(6); S.I. 2017/765, reg. 2(y)