Section 408: Transitional provision for anticipatory carrying out of functions
879.This section applies where an order made under section 411 bringing into force any of the following provisions of the Act: (i) a provision of Part 2 of the Act, (ii) a provision of Chapter 1 of Part 5; or (iii) a provision of Part 1 or 6 relating to a provision of Part 2 or of Chapter 1 of Part 5 or any enactment relating to the management of the radio spectrum, states that such a provision is brought into force for the purposes of enabling specified networks and services functions, or specified spectrum functions, to be carried out during the transitional period by the Director General of Telecommunications or the Secretary of State.
880.Any provision brought into force during the transitional period has effect as if references in that provision to OFCOM and references to OFCOM inserted by that provision in any other enactment were references to either the Director General of Telecommunications or the Secretary of State, as the case may be.
*Subsection (6) defines the transitional period. Subsections (7) and (8), respectively, define networks and services functions and spectrum functions.
881.This section should be read with paragraph 2 of Schedule 18, which provides that steps taken by the Secretary of State or OFCOM before a power or duty is conferred or imposed on either of them or transferred to OFCOM are to be treated as satisfying any requirement for steps to be taken prior to the exercise of the power or duty. This provision also applies to steps taken by the Director General of Telecommunications or the Secretary of State when section 408 applies.
882.The provisions of the Act which implement the four EC Communications Directives will be brought into force very quickly between Royal Assent and the date on which those Directives must be implemented: 25 July 2003. The necessary steps under the Act for OFCOM to be able to exercise its functions under these provisions have not yet been completed. As a result, these functions will initially be exercised by the Director General of Telecommunications and the Secretary of State under section 408; and they have taken preparatory steps in advance under paragraph 2 of Schedule 18.