Search Legislation

Communications Act 2003

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening OptionsExpand opening options

Changes over time for: Section 66

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

Communications Act 2003, Section 66 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

66Designation of universal service providersU.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)OFCOM may by regulations make provision for the designation of the persons to whom universal service conditions are to be applicable.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), those regulations are not to authorise the designation of a person other than a communications provider.

(3)The regulations may provide for a person other than a communications provider to be designated for the purposes only of conditions relating to—

(a)the supply of directories capable of being used in connection with the use of an electronic communications network or electronic communications service; and

(b)the making available of directory enquiry facilities capable of being used for purposes connected with the use of such a network or service.

(4)OFCOM may from time to time—

(a)review the designations for the time being in force in accordance with regulations under this section; and

(b)on such a review, consider what (if any) universal service conditions should continue to apply to each of the designated persons.

(5)The procedure to be followed in the case of every such review must be the procedure provided for in regulations made by OFCOM.

(6)Regulations made by OFCOM under this section must provide for a person’s designation as a person to whom universal service conditions are to be applicable to cease to have effect where, in any such case as may be described in the regulations, the universal service conditions applied to him are all revoked.

(7)Regulations made by OFCOM under this section providing a procedure for the designation of persons, or for the conduct of a review under subsection (4), must not provide for any procedure other than one appearing to OFCOM—

(a)to be efficient, objective and transparent; and

(b)not to involve, or to tend to give rise to, any undue discrimination against any person or description of persons.

F1(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F3(9A)In making any regulations under this section, OFCOM must have regard to any guidance that is contained in the universal service order.]

(10)Section 403 applies to the power of OFCOM to make regulations under this section.

Textual Amendments

F3S. 66(9A) inserted (27.6.2017) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 1(5), 118(2)

Commencement Information

I1S. 66 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I2S. 66 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

Back to top

Options/Help

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?