Broadcasting Act 1996

18 Licensing of digital programme services

(1) An application for a licence to provide digital programme services (in this Part referred to as a “digital programme licence”) shall—

(a) be made in such manner as the Commission may determine, and

(b) be accompanied by such fee (if any) as they may determine.

(2) At any time after receiving such an application and before determining it, the Commission may require the applicant to furnish such additional information as they may consider necessary for the purpose of considering the application.

(3) Any information to be furnished to the Commission under this section shall, if they so require, be in such form or verified in such manner as they may specify.

(4) Where an application for a digital programme licence is made to the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this section, they shall grant the licence unless precluded from doing so by section 3(3)(a) or 5(1).

(5) Subject to subsection (6), sections 6 to 12 of the 1990 Act (general provisions relating to services licensed under Part I of that Act) shall apply in relation to a digital programme service licensed under this Part as they apply in relation to a service licensed under that Part of that Act.

(6) In its application in relation to a digital programme service—

(a) section 6 of the 1990 Act shall have effect with the omission of subsection (8), and

(b) section 12(1)(b) of that Act shall have effect as if the reference to the Commission’s functions under Chapter II of Part I of that Act included a reference to their functions under this Part.