Broadcasting Act 1996

59 Enforcement of national or local radio multiplex licences. U.K.

(1) If the Authority are satisfied that the holder of a radio multiplex licence has failed to comply with any condition of the licence or with any direction given by the Authority under or by virtue of any provision of this Part, they may (subject to the following provisions of this section) serve on him—

(a) a notice requiring him to pay, within a specified period, a specified financial penalty to the Authority, or

(b) a notice reducing the period for which the licence is to be in force by a specified period not exceeding two years.

(2) The amount of any financial penalty imposed in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) on the holder of a national radio multiplex licence shall not exceed whichever is the greater of—

(a) £50,000, or

(b) the amount determined under subsection (3).

(3) The amount referred to in subsection (2)(b) is—

(a) in a case where a penalty under this section has not previously been imposed on the holder of the radio multiplex licence during any period for which his licence has been in force (“the relevant period”), 3 per cent. of the share of multiplex revenue attributable to him for his last complete accounting period (as determined in accordance with section 57), and

(b) in any other case, 5 per cent. of the share of multiplex revenue attributable to him for that accounting period (as so determined),

and in relation to a person whose first complete accounting period falling within the relevant period has not yet ended, paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall be construed as referring to 3, or (as the case may be) 5, per cent. of the amount which the Authority estimate to be the share of multiplex revenue attributable to him for that accounting period (as so determined).

(4) The amount of any financial penalty imposed in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) on the holder of a local radio multiplex licence shall not exceed £50,000.

(5) The Authority shall not serve on any person any notice under subsection (1) unless they have given him a reasonable opportunity of making representations to them about the matters complained of.

(6) Where a licence is due to expire on a particular date by virtue of a notice served on any person under subsection (1)(b), the Authority may, on the application of that person, revoke that notice by a further notice served on him at any time before that date, if they are satisfied that, since the date of the earlier notice, his conduct in relation to the operation of the licensed service has been such as to justify the revocation of that notice.

(7) Where the Authority serve a notice on a BBC company under any provision of this section, they shall send a copy of the notice to the Secretary of State.

(8) Subject to subsection (9), section 111 of the 1990 Act (power to revoke licence granted under Chapter II of Part III of the 1990 Act) shall have effect in relation to a radio multiplex licence as it has effect in relation to a licence under Chapter II of Part III of the 1990 Act.

(9) In its application in relation to a radio multiplex licence, section 111 of the 1990 Act shall have effect—

(a) with the substitution in subsection (1)(a) for the reference to Part III of the 1990 Act of a reference to this Part, and

(b) with the omission of subsection (4) and the reference to that subsection in subsection (6).