The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 1117

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Made

6th October 2021

Coming into force

27th October 2021

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”), in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 12, 13(2) and 122(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006(1) (the “Act”), make the following Regulations.

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 commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 and shall come into force on 27th October 2021.

Amendment to the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2020

2.—(1) The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2020(2) (the “principal Regulations”) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 4 (Licence charges and time of payment) of the principal Regulations—

(a) in sub-paragraph (6)(a) for the words “under paragraph (1) or regulation 7(1)” substitute “under paragraph (1), regulation 7(1) or regulation 8(1)”;

(b) delete the word “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (6)(b)(vi);

(c) insert the word “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (6)(b)(vii); and

(d) after sub-paragraph (6)(b)(vii), insert the following sub-paragraph—

“(viii) the class “Spectrum Access Licence 412 MHz Band” under regulation 8(1).”

(3) After regulation 7 of the principal Regulations, insert the following regulation—

Licence charges payable for the 412 MHz frequency band

8.— (1) On 31st October 2021 and on each anniversary of that date, each holder of a licence of the Spectrum Access Licence 412 MHz Band licence class shall pay to OFCOM the total sum specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The total sum to be paid is £396,000 for each authorisation under the licence of the use of a 1 MHz national channel within the frequency bands 412.0 – 414.0 MHz and 422.0 to 424.0 MHz.”

Philip Marnick

Group Director, Spectrum Group

For and on behalf of the Office of Communications

6th October 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2020.

These Regulations set the level of charges payable to the Office of Communication (“OFCOM”) in respect of the Spectrum Access Licence 412 MHz Band licence class, for licences granted under section 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 which authorise the use of the frequencies in the bands 412.0 to 414.0 megahertz and 422.0 to 424.0 megahertz.

A regulatory impact assessment of the effect of these Regulations has been prepared and is available to the public from the OFCOM Library at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HA (Tel: [phone]) and on OFCOM’s website at www.ofcom.org.uk. Copies of the impact assessment have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

(1)

2006 c.36

(2)

S.I. 2020/1068