These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1331), as amended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1464), the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1006), the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1885) and the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/460).

These Regulations increase the fees payable in respect of the Public Mobile Operator Licence for cellular radiotelephones and digital cellular PCN radiotelephones. They also introduce a new licence class—On-Site Private Business Radio—for which the fee payable is charged by reference to the number of systems (as defined in regulation 2(a)) for each site. In addition, provision is made for such licence class to have the benefit of the 50 per cent fee discount available to safety of life charities under regulation 5 of the 1995 Regulations as amended (regulation 2(b)). In relation to these amendments, fees are charged in accordance with section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 (c. 6) having regard to the matters specified in section 2(2) of that Act.

A full compliance cost assessment report of the effect that these Regulations would have on the costs of business is available to the public from the Radiocommunications Agency Library at New King’s Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 9SA (Tel: 0171–211 0211).