Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992

10 Interpretation. U.K.

The following section shall be inserted in the M1 Telecommunications Act 1984, after section 27K—

“27L Definitions for sections 27A to 27K.

(1) For the purposes of sections 27A to 27K above—

• “designated operator” means any public telecommunications operator designated for the purposes of those sections by order made by the Secretary of State; and

• “relevant services” means—

  (a)

  any voice telephony service, telephone rental service, directory service, directory information service or facsimile transmission service provided for occupiers of residential or single line premises; and

  (b)

  any public call box service.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not exercise his power under subsection (1) above to designate a telecommunications operator unless he is satisfied that the operator provides at least 25 per cent. of the voice telephony services supplied within the area in relation to which he is a public telecommunications operator.

(3) For the purposes of this section—

• “public call box service” means a service which is provided by a designated operator and which consists of the provision of telecommunication apparatus which—

  (a)

  is owned and operated by the designated operator;

  (b)

  gives access to a voice telephony service; and

  (c)

  is intended for use by members of the public generally;

• “directory service” means a service which consists of the preparation and provision of a list (which may be made available in separate parts and through different media) of customers of a designated operator which is not arranged by reference to a description of the trades, professions or businesses carried on by those customers;

• “directory information service” has the same meaning as in section 4(3) above;

• “facsimile transmission service” means a telecommunication service for the transmission of electronic signals by a designated operator, over exchange lines provided by him, for the purposes of making a facsimile of a document;

• “hard wired telephone” means a telephone of a kind which can only be connected to a public telecommunication system by means other than—

  (a)

  the insertion of a plug into a socket; or

  (b)

  wireless telegraphy;

• “single line premises” means premises which are not residential premises but which are served by a single exchange line provided by the designated operator;

• “telephone rental service” means a service consisting in the hiring out of any hard wired telephone which is capable of emitting or receiving signals which have been, or are to be, conveyed by means of a public telecommunication system run by a designated operator;

• “voice telephony service” means a telecommunication service for the conveyance of speech over exchange lines provided by the designated operator.”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 10 wholly in force at 1.7.1992 see s. 56(2) and Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I

Marginal Citations

M1 1984 c. 12.