Communications Act 2003

6 (1) Where OFCOM propose to revoke or modify a grant of recognised spectrum access or a restriction or condition to which such a grant is subject, they shall give a notification to the holder of the grant— U.K.

(a) stating the reasons for their proposal; and

(b) specifying the period during which the person notified has an opportunity to do the things specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) Those things are—

(a) making representations about the proposal; and

(b) if the proposal is the result of a contravention of a restriction or condition of the grant, complying with it.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) to (6), the period for doing those things must be the period of one month beginning with the day after the one on which the notification was given.

(4) OFCOM may, if they think fit, allow a longer period for doing those things either—

(a) by specifying a longer period in the notification; or

(b) by subsequently, on one or more occasions, extending the specified period.

(5) The person notified shall have a shorter period for doing those things if a shorter period is agreed between OFCOM and the person notified.

(6) The person notified shall also have a shorter period if—

(a) OFCOM have reasonable grounds for believing that the case is a case of serious and repeated contravention or an urgent case;

(b) they have determined that, in the circumstances, a shorter period would be appropriate; and

(c) the shorter period has been specified in the notification.

(7) A case is an urgent case if the failure to revoke or modify the grant will result in, or create an immediate risk of—

(a) a serious threat to the safety of the public, to public health or to national security; or

(b) serious economic or operational problems for persons, other than the person in contravention, who—

(i) use stations or apparatus for wireless telegraphy; or

(ii) are communications providers or make associated facilities available.

(8) For the purposes of this paragraph a contravention of a restriction or condition of a grant of recognised spectrum access is a repeated contravention, in relation to a proposal to revoke or modify the grant, if it falls within sub-paragraph (9).

(9) A contravention falls within this sub-paragraph if—

(a) a previous notification under sub-paragraph (1) has been given in respect of the same contravention or in respect of any other contravention of a restriction or condition of the same grant; and

(b) the subsequent notification under that sub-paragraph is given no more than twelve months after the day of the making by OFCOM of a determination for the purposes of sub-paragraph (10) that the contravention to which the previous notification related did occur.

(10) Where OFCOM have given a notification under sub-paragraph (1), they shall, within the period of one month beginning with the end of the period for the making of representations about the proposal contained in that notification—

(a) decide whether or not to revoke or modify the grant of recognised spectrum access in accordance with their proposal, or in accordance with that proposal but with modifications; and

(b) give the holder of the grant a notification of their decision.

(11) The notification under sub-paragraph (10)—

(a) must be given no more than one week after the making of the decision to which it relates; and

(b) must, in accordance with that decision, either revoke or modify the grant or withdraw the proposal for revocation or modification.

(12) Nothing in this paragraph is to apply to—

(a) a revocation or modification to be made at the request or with the consent of the holder of the grant; or

(b) a revocation or modification that appears to OFCOM to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of securing compliance with an international obligation of the United Kingdom.

(13) The reference in sub-paragraph (9) to a contravention of a restriction or condition of a grant includes a reference to a contravention of a restriction or condition contained in any previous grant of which the grant in question is a direct or indirect renewal.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)