Part 3

Regulation of postal services

Financial support for universal postal service

Report on sharing mechanism
47
1
This section applies where regulations under section 46 provide for a scheme for the assessment, collection and distribution of contributions.
2
OFCOM must prepare and publish a report setting out, in relation to the period to which it applies—
a
every determination by OFCOM that has had effect in relation to a time in that period as a determination of the costs of providing anything required to be provided by a universal service provider to meet its universal service obligations,
b
the market benefits for each universal service provider that have accrued to the provider during that period from its designation and the application to it of universal service obligations, and
c
the contribution made by every person who has made a contribution during that period.
3
The first report under this section must be prepared in relation to the period of 12 months beginning with the coming into force of the first regulations made under section 46.
4
Subsequent reports must be prepared in relation to the period of 12 months beginning with the end of the period to which the previous report applied.
5
A report under this section—
a
must be prepared as soon as practicable after the end of the period to which it is to apply, and
b
must be published as soon as practicable after its preparation is complete.
6
OFCOM are not required under this section—
a
to publish any matter that is confidential, or
b
to publish anything that it would not be reasonably practicable to publish without disclosing such a matter.
7
A matter is confidential for this purpose—
a
if it relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body and publication of the matter would or might, in OFCOM’s opinion, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of the body, and
b
if it relates to the private affairs of an individual and publication of the matter would or might, in OFCOM’s opinion, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of the individual.
8
A report under this section must be published in such manner as OFCOM consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons who, in their opinion, are affected by the matters to which it relates.