Communications Act 2003

Chapter 1 U.K. Functions of OFCOM under competition legislation

369 Matters in relation to which OFCOM have competition functions U.K.

(1) In this Chapter references to communications matters are references to any one or more of the following—

(a) the provision of electronic communications networks;

(b) the provision of electronic communications services;

(c) the provision or making available of services or facilities which are provided or made available—

(i) by means of, or in association with the provision (by the same person or another) of, an electronic communications network or electronic communications service; or

(ii) for the purpose of facilitating the use of any such network or service (whether provided by the same person or another);

(d) apparatus used for providing or making available anything mentioned in the preceding paragraphs;

(e) broadcasting and related matters.

(2) The Secretary of State may by order make such amendments of subsection (1) as he may consider appropriate for the purpose of modifying the description of activities in respect of which any of the provisions of this Part—

(a) confer functions on OFCOM under Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) or relate to the carrying out by OFCOM of those functions; or

(b) confer functions on OFCOM under Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) or relate to the carrying out by OFCOM of those functions.

(3) No order is to be made containing provision authorised by this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 369(1)(a)-(d)(2)(3) in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I2 S. 369(1)(a)-(d) (2) (3) in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

I3 S. 369(1)(e) in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)

370 OFCOM’s functions under Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 U.K.

(1) The functions to which subsection (2) applies shall be concurrent functions of OFCOM and the Office of Fair Trading.

(2) This subsection applies to the functions of the Office of Fair Trading under Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (market investigations) (other than sections 166 and 171) so far as relating to commercial activities connected with communications matters.

(3) So far as necessary for the purposes of, or in connection with, subsections (1) and (2), references in Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 to the Office of Fair Trading (including references in provisions of that Act applied by that Part) shall be construed as including references to OFCOM except—

(a) in sections 166 and 171; and

(b) where the context otherwise requires.

(4) In subsection (2) the reference to activities connected with communications matters, so far as it is a reference to activities connected with any apparatus falling within paragraph (d) of section 369(1), includes a reference to—

(a) the supply and export of any such apparatus; and

(b) the production or acquisition of any such apparatus for supply or export.

(5) Before the Office of Fair Trading or OFCOM first exercises in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of this section, that person shall consult the other.

(6) Neither the Office of Fair Trading nor OFCOM shall exercise in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of this section if functions which are so exercisable have been exercised in relation to that matter by the other.

(7) It shall be the duty of OFCOM, for the purpose of assisting the Competition Commission in carrying out an investigation on a reference made to them by OFCOM by virtue of subsection (1), to give to the Commission—

(a) any information which is in OFCOM’s possession and relates to matters falling within the scope of the investigation and—

(i) is requested by the Commission for that purpose, or

(ii) is information which, in OFCOM’s opinion, it would be appropriate for that purpose to give to the Commission without any such request;

and

(b) any other assistance which the Commission may require, and which it is within OFCOM’s power to give, in relation to any such matters,

and the Commission, for the purposes of carrying out any such investigation, shall take into account any information given to it for that purpose under this subsection.

(8) If any question arises as to whether, by virtue of this section, any functions fall to be, or are capable of being, carried out by OFCOM in relation to any particular case, that question shall be referred to and determined by the Secretary of State.

(9) No objection shall be taken to anything done under Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) by or in relation to OFCOM on the ground that it should have been done by or in relation to the Office of Fair Trading.

(10) Section 117 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (offences of supplying false or misleading information) as applied by section 180 of that Act shall have effect so far as relating to functions exercisable by OFCOM by virtue of this section as if the references in section 117(1)(a) and (2) to the Office of Fair Trading included references to OFCOM.

(11) Subject to subsection (12), section 3 does not apply in relation to anything done by OFCOM in the carrying out of their functions by virtue of this section.

(12) In the carrying out of any functions by virtue of this section OFCOM may nevertheless have regard to any of the matters in respect of which a duty is imposed by section 3(1) to (4) if it is a matter to which the Office of Fair Trading is entitled to have regard in the carrying out of those functions.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 370 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I5 S. 370 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

371 OFCOM’s functions under the Competition Act 1998 U.K.

(1) The functions to which subsection (2) applies shall be concurrent functions of OFCOM and the Office of Fair Trading.

(2) This subsection applies to the functions of the Office of Fair Trading under the provisions of Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) (other than sections 38(1) to (6) and 51) so far as relating to—

(a) agreements, decisions or concerted practices which are of the kind mentioned in section 2(1) of that Act (agreements, decisions or practices affecting trade and having as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition) and which relate to activities connected with communications matters; or

(b) conduct which is of the kind mentioned in section 18(1) of that Act (conduct abusing a dominant position) and relates to such activities.

(3) So far as necessary for the purposes of, or in connection with, the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), references to the Office of Fair Trading in Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 are to be read as including references to OFCOM, except—

(a) in sections 38(1) to (6), 51, 52(6) and (8) and 54, and

(b) where the context otherwise requires.

(4) In subsection (2), the reference to activities connected with communications matters, so far as it is a reference to activities connected with any apparatus falling within paragraph (d) of section 369(1), includes a reference to—

(a) the supply and export of any such apparatus; and

(b) the production or acquisition of any such apparatus for supply or export.

(5) In section 54 of the Competition Act 1998—

(a) in subsection (1) (definition of “regulator” for the purposes of Part 1 of that Act), for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—

“(a) the Office of Communications;”

(b) in subsection (4) (power to make regulations about concurrent functions of the Office of Fair Trading and sectoral regulators), “or by Chapter V of Part I of the Transport Act 2000” there shall be inserted “ to this Act, by Chapter 5 of Part 1 of the Transport Act 2000 or by section 371 of the Communications Act 2003 ”.

(6) In paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Competition Act 1998 (publication of list of networking arrangements under the 1990 Act excluded from the Chapter 1 prohibition)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2), for “The Independent Television Commission (“ITC”)” there shall be substituted “ OFCOM ”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (3), for “The ITC” there shall be substituted “ OFCOM ”.

(7) In section 59(1) of the Competition Act 1998 (interpretation of Part 1), after the definition of “Minister of the Crown” there shall be inserted—

““OFCOM” means the Office of Communications;”.

(8) OFCOM may carry out, in respect of activities connected with communications matters and concurrently with the Office of Fair Trading, the functions of the Office of Fair Trading under any of paragraphs 3, 7, 19(3) and 36 to 39 of Schedule 13 to the Competition Act 1998 (transitional provisions).

(9) If any question arises as to whether, by virtue of this section, any functions fall to be, or are capable of being, carried out by OFCOM in relation to a particular case, that question shall be referred to and determined by the Secretary of State.

(10) No objection shall be taken to anything done under by or in relation to OFCOM under the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) on the ground that it should have been done by or in relation to the Office of Fair Trading.

(11) Subject to subsection (12), section 3 does not apply in relation to anything done by OFCOM in the carrying out of their functions by virtue of this section.

(12) In the carrying out of any functions by virtue of this section OFCOM may nevertheless have regard to any of the matters in respect of which a duty is imposed by section 3(1) to (4) if it is a matter to which the Office of Fair Trading is entitled to have regard in the carrying out of those functions.

Commencement Information

I6 S. 371 in force at 25.7.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))

I7 S. 371 in force at 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

372 Application of the Competition Act 1998 to news provision U.K.

(1) Section 194A of the 1990 Act (which modifies the Competition Act 1998 in relation to agreements relating to Channel 3 news provision) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (meaning of “relevant agreement”)—

(a) for “section 31A(a)” there shall be substituted “ section 280 of the Communications Act 2003 ”; and

(b) for “section 31(2)” (in both places) there shall be substituted “ that section ”.

(3) In subsections (2), (6) and (7)(b)(i) (consultations with and notifications to the Office of Fair Trading), after the words “the OFT”, in each place where they occur, there shall be inserted “ and OFCOM ”.

(4) In subsection (3)(b)—

(a) for “section 31(2)” there shall be substituted “ section 280 of the Communications Act 2003 ”; and

(b) for “section 31(1) and (2)” there shall be substituted “ that section of that Act of 2003 ”.

(5) In subsection (5)(c) (declaration without notification), after “the OFT” there shall be inserted “ or OFCOM or both of them ”.

(6) In subsection (7) (restriction on exercise by Office of Fair Trading of Chapter III powers)—

(a) for “The OFT may not” there shall be substituted “ Neither the OFT nor OFCOM may ”; and

(b) for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—

“(a) the Secretary of State has been notified by the OFT or (as the case may be) by OFCOM of its or their intention to do so; and”.

(7) In subsection (8) (notice by Office of Fair Trading to the Secretary of State), for the words from the beginning to “assist” in paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—

“(8) Where the OFT or OFCOM is or are proposing to exercise any Chapter III powers in respect of a relevant agreement, it or they must give the Secretary of State particulars of the agreement and such other information—

(a) it considers or (as the case may be) they consider will assist”.

(8) In subsection (9), in the definition of “Chapter III powers”, for “given to the OFT by” there shall be substituted “ of the OFT and of OFCOM under ”.

Commencement Information

I8 S. 372 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)