99 Procedure to be followed by Authority in connection with consideration of applications for national licences.U.K.
(1)Where a person has made an application for a national licence in accordance with section 98, the Authority shall not proceed to consider whether to award him the licence on the basis of his cash bid in accordance with section 100 unless it appears to them—
(a)that his proposed service would both—
(i)comply with any requirement specified under subsection (1)(b)(iii) or (iv) of section 98, and
(ii)consist of such a diversity of programmes as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) of that section; and
(b)that he would be able to maintain that service throughout the period for which the licence would be in force.
(2)Any reference to an applicant in section 100 (except in section 100(9)(b)) is accordingly a reference to an applicant in whose case it appears to the Authority that the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) above are satisfied.