Broadcasting Act 1996

49 Duty of Authority to reserve digital capacity for certain purposes of BBC

(1) In exercising their powers to grant local radio multiplex licences, the Authority shall reserve to the BBC such digital capacity as the Authority consider appropriate in all the circumstances with a view to enabling every BBC local radio service and every BBC radio service for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland to be received in digital form within a coverage area which, so far as reasonably practicable, corresponds with the coverage area for that service as provided otherwise than in digital form.

(2) The circumstances to which the Authority may have regard in performing their duty under subsection (1) include the likely demand for digital capacity by persons providing or proposing to provide local digital sound programme services.

(3) Where the Authority propose to grant a licence to provide a local radio multiplex service, they shall notify the BBC of the Authority’s proposals for reserving to the BBC digital capacity on the frequency in respect of which the licence is to be granted in respect of the area or locality in which it is to be granted.

(4) If the BBC do not give their consent to the proposals within such period as the Authority may specify in their notice under subsection (3), the Authority shall refer the proposals to the Secretary of State, who may determine—

(a) whether any digital capacity is to be reserved to the BBC on the grant of the licence, and

(b) if so, the amount of that capacity.

(5) Before making any determination under subsection (4), the Secretary of State shall give the Authority and the BBC an opportunity of making representations to him about the Authority’s proposals.

(6) Where a local radio multiplex licence is granted in respect of a frequency and area or locality in respect of which digital capacity is reserved in pursuance of this section, the licence shall include such conditions as appear to the Authority to be appropriate for the purpose of securing that, in consideration of the making by the BBC of such payments as are from time to time agreed between the holder of the licence and the BBC, the holder of the licence uses such digital capacity as may from time to time be requested by the BBC (not exceeding the amount so reserved) for the broadcasting of services provided by the BBC.