Communications Act 2003

33 Advance notification to OFCOM

(1) A person shall not—

(a) provide a designated electronic communications network,

(b) provide a designated electronic communications service, or

(c) make available a designated associated facility,

unless, before beginning to provide it or to make it available, he has given a notification to OFCOM of his intention to provide that network or service, or to make that facility available.

(2) An electronic communications network, electronic communications service or associated facility is designated for the purposes of this section if it is of a description of networks, services or facilities that is for the time being designated by OFCOM as a description of networks, services or facilities for which notification under this section is required.

(3) A person who has given a notification for the purposes of subsection (1) must, before—

(a) providing or making available the notified network, service or facility with any significant differences, or

(b) ceasing to provide it or to make it available,

give a notification to OFCOM of the differences or (as the case may be) of his intention to cease to provide the network or service or to make the facility available.

(4) A notification for the purposes of this section must—

(a) be sent to OFCOM in such manner as OFCOM may require; and

(b) contain all such information as OFCOM may require.

(5) The only information OFCOM may require a notification to contain is—

(a) a declaration of the relevant proposal of the person giving the notification;

(b) the time when it is intended that effect should be given to the relevant proposal;

(c) particulars identifying the person giving the notification;

(d) particulars identifying one or more persons with addresses in the United Kingdom who, for the purposes of matters relating to the notified network, service or facility, are authorised to accept service at an address in the United Kingdom on behalf of the person giving the notification;

(e) particulars identifying one or more persons who may be contacted if there is an emergency that is caused by or affects the provision of the notified network, service or facility;

(f) addresses and other particulars necessary for effecting service on or contacting each of the persons mentioned in paragraphs (c) to (e).

(6) The declaration of the relevant proposal that may be required under subsection (5) is whichever of the following is appropriate in the case of the person giving the notification—

(a) a declaration of his proposal to provide the network or service described in the notification or to make available the facility so described;

(b) a declaration of his proposal to make the modifications that are so described of the network, service or facility specified in the notification; or

(c) a declaration of his proposal to cease to provide the network or service so specified or to cease to make available the facility so specified.

(7) Requirements imposed under subsection (4) are not to require a notification by a person to contain particulars falling within subsection (5)(d) in a case in which—

(a) that person is resident in a member State or has a place of business in a member State;

(b) the notification contains a statement under subsection (8);

(c) the notification sets out an address in a member State at which service will be accepted by the person who, in accordance with that statement, is authorised to accept it; and

(d) OFCOM are satisfied that adequate arrangements exist for effecting service on that person at that address.

(8) That statement is one which—

(a) declares that the person authorised, for the purposes of matters relating to the notified network, service or facilities, to accept service on behalf of the person giving the notification is that person himself; or

(b) identifies another person who is resident in a member State, or has a place of business in such State, as the person so authorised.

(9) The reference in subsection (3) to providing or making available a notified network, service or facility with significant differences is a reference to continuing to provide it, or to make it available, after a change in whatever falling within subsection (5)(a) to (f) was last notified to OFCOM under this section.

(10) References in this section to accepting service at an address are references—

(a) to accepting service of documents or process at that address; or

(b) otherwise to receiving notifications at that address;

and the reference in subsection (7) to effecting service at an address is to be construed accordingly.

(11) Where a description of electronic communications network, electronic communications service or associated facility is designated for the purposes of this section at a time when a network, service or facility of that description is already being provided or made available by a person—

(a) that person’s obligation under this section to give a notification before beginning to provide or make available that network, service or facility shall have effect as an obligation to give a notification within such period after the coming into force of the designation as may be specified in the notice in which the designation is contained; and

(b) that notification is to be one stating that that person is already providing the network or service, or making the facility available (rather than that it is his intention to do so).

(12) Subsection (11) has effect subject to any transitional provision—

(a) which is contained in the notification setting out the designation; and

(b) treats a person as having given the notification required by that subsection.