2013 No. 917

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Made

Coming into force

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12, 13(2) and 122(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 20061 (the “Act”).

Before making these Regulations, OFCOM have given notice of their proposal to do so in accordance with section 122(4)(a) of the Act, published notice of their proposal in accordance with section 122(4)(b) of the Act, and have considered the representations made to them before the time specified in the notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 and shall come into force on 3rd May 2013.

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 20112

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 20112 (“the principal Regulations”) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

Amendment of Schedule 23

1

Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

2

Under the heading “Aeronautical”—

a

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Aeronautical Broadcast)” —

i

for “exceeds £300, the sum payable is £300” substitute “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650”; and

ii

for “exceeds £1,000, the sum payable is £1,000” substitute “exceeds £2,000, the sum payable is £2,000”.

b

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System)”—

i

for “exceeds £300, the sum payable is £300” substitute “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650”; and

ii

for “exceeds £1,000, the sum payable is £1,000” substitute “exceeds £2,000, the sum payable is £2,000”;

c

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Air/Ground, Aerodrome Flight Information Service and Tower)”—

i

for “exceeds £100, the sum payable is £100” substitute “exceeds £150, the sum payable is £150”; and

ii

for “exceeds £350, the sum payable is £350” substitute “exceeds £500, the sum payable is £500”;

d

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Approach)”—

i

for “exceeds £300, the sum payable is £300” substitute “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650”; and

ii

for “exceeds £1,000, the sum payable is £1,000” substitute “exceeds £2,000, the sum payable is £2,000”;

e

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Area Control)” —

i

for “exceeds £300, the sum payable is £300” substitute “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650”; and

ii

for “exceeds £1,000, the sum payable is £1,000” substitute “exceeds £2,000 the sum payable is £2,000;

f

in relation to the licence class “Aeronautical Station (Very High Frequency Data Link)”—

i

for “exceeds £1,000, the sum payable is £1,000” substitute “exceeds £2,000, the sum payable is £2,000”; and

ii

for “paragraph (b)(ii) exceeds £2,000, the sum payable is £2,000” substitute “paragraph (b)(ii) exceeds £4,000, the sum payable is £4,000”;

3

Under the heading “Broadcasting” delete the entries for “Broadcasting Services (Transmission of National and Regional Analogue Television Broadcasts—BBC)” and “Broadcasting Services (Transmission of National and Regional Analogue Television Broadcasts—Independent Television Networks)”;

4

Under the heading “Business Radio” after the entry for “Public Safety Radio (380-385 MHz paired with 390-395 MHz)” add the following entries—

Public Safety Radio (Jersey)

£610

12 months

Public Safety Radio (Guernsey)

£378

12 months

Public Safety Radio (Isle of Man)

£1372

12 months

5

Under the heading “Satellite Services” before the entry for “Satellite (Earth Station Network)” add the following entry—

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Repeaters

£75

Amendment of Schedule 94

In the table in Schedule 9 to the principal Regulations—

a

for “£75” where it appears in Column 3, substitute “£100”; and

b

for “£87.50” substitute “£125”.

Amendment of Schedule 13

In the table in Schedule 13 to the principal Regulations for “£127.50” substitute “£185”.

Hyacinth S. NwanaGroup Director, Spectrum Policy Group of the Office of CommunicationsFor and on behalf of the Office of Communications
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1128 as amended by S.I. 2012/1075) (the “Principal Regulations”).

These Regulations increase the maximum fees which may be payable for licences in the Aeronautical sector, remove fees for licences (which are no longer granted) in the Broadcasting sector and add new fees for licences in the Business Radio sector and in the Satellite Services sector.

The Regulations also amend Schedules 9 and 13 to the Principal Regulations to change the fees charged for licence classes in the Maritime sector.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs to business is available to the public from the Office of Communication’s (“OFCOM”) Library at Riverside House, 2A Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (Tel: 020 7981 3000) and on OFCOM’s website at www.ofcom.org.uk. Copies of this assessment have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.