2014 No. 1295

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

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 2014 and shall come into force on 1st June 2014.

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 £650, the sum payable is £650” substitute “exceeds £1000, the sum payable is £1000”; and

ii

for “exceeds £2000, the sum payable is £2000” substitute “exceeds £3000, the sum payable is £3000”;

b

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

i

for “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650” substitute “exceeds £1000, the sum payable is £1000”; and

ii

for “exceeds £2000, the sum payable is £2000” substitute “exceeds £3000, the sum payable is £3000”;

c

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

i

for “exceeds £150, the sum payable is £150” substitute “exceeds £400, the sum payable is £400”; and

ii

for “exceeds £500, the sum payable is £500” substitute “exceeds £1200, the sum payable is £1200”;

d

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

i

for “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650” substitute “exceeds £1000, the sum payable is £1000”; and

ii

for “exceeds £2000, the sum payable is £2000” substitute “exceeds £3000, the sum payable is £3000”;

e

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

i

for “exceeds £650, the sum payable is £650” substitute “exceeds £1000, the sum payable is £1000”; and

ii

for “exceeds £2000, the sum payable is £2000” substitute “exceeds £3000, the sum payable is £3000”; and

f

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

i

for “exceeds £2000, the sum payable is £2000” substitute “exceeds £3000, the sum payable is £3000”; and

ii

for “exceeds £4000, the sum payable is £4000” substitute “exceeds £6000, the sum payable is £6000”.

3

Under the heading “Broadcasting” after the entry for “Broadcasting Services” add the following entries—

National DTT Multiplexes

£188,000

12 months

Local TV DTT Multiplex

£11,950

12 months

Northern Ireland DTT Multiplex

£3360

12 months

4

Under the heading “Fixed Links” —

a

for “Point to Point Fixed Links” substitute “Point to Point Fixed Links (exclusive of 71.125 – 73.125GHz and 81.125 – 83.125GHz”; and

b

before the entry for “Self Co-ordinated Links” add the following entry—

Point to Point Fixed Links (71.125 – 73.125GHz and 81.125 – 83.125GHz)

(a) £100 for each channel with a bandwidth of less than 250MHz.

(b) £225 for each 250MHz of bandwidth within a channel, where the channel has a bandwidth of 250MHz or more.

12 months

5

Under the heading “Public Wireless Networks”—

a

for “Public Wireless Networks (2G and 3G Cellular Operator – Guernsey)” substitute “Public Wireless Networks (Guernsey)”;

b

for “Public Wireless Networks (2G and 3G Cellular Operator – Jersey)” substitute “Public Wireless Networks (Jersey)”; and

c

for “Public Wireless Networks (2G and 3G Cellular Operator – Isle of Man)” substitute “Public Wireless Networks (Isle of Man)”.

Philip MarnickGroup Director, Spectrum PolicyFor and on behalf of the Office of Communications
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1128 as amended by S.I. 2012/1075 and S.I. 2013/917) (the “Principal Regulations”).

These Regulations increase the maximum fees which may be payable for wireless telegraphy licences in the Aeronautical sector, add new fees for licences in the Broadcasting sector and change the names of licence classes in the Public Wireless Network sector.

The Regulations also introduce new fees for licences in the Point to Point Fixed Links 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 library of the House of Commons.