Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)

Part 2 U.K. Networks, services and the radio spectrum

Chapter 1 U.K. Electronic communications networks and services

Access-related conditions U.K.

74 Specific types of access-related conditions U.K.

(1) The conditions that may be set by virtue of section 73(2) include conditions which, for the purpose of securing end-to-end connectivity for the end-users of public electronic communications services provided by means of a series of electronic communications networks—

(a) impose obligations on a person controlling network access to any of those networks; and

(b) require the interconnection of the networks.

(2) The conditions that may be set by virtue of section 73(2) also include such conditions imposing obligations on a person providing facilities for the use of application programme interfaces or electronic programme guides as OFCOM consider to be necessary for securing—

(a) that persons are able to have access to such programme services provided in digital form as OFCOM may determine; and

(b) that the facility for using those interfaces or guides is provided on terms which—

(i) are fair and reasonable; and

(ii) do not involve, or tend to give rise to, any undue discrimination against any person or description of persons.

(3) In this section—

• “application programme interface” means a facility for allowing software to make use, in connection with any of the matters mentioned in subsection (4), of facilities contained in other software;

• “electronic programme guide” means a facility by means of which a person has access to any service which consists of—

  (a)

  the listing or promotion, or both the listing and the promotion, of some or all of the programmes included in any one or more programme services; and

  (b)

  a facility for obtaining access, in whole or in part, to the programme service or services listed or promoted in the guide;

• “end-to-end connectivity” means the facility—

  (a)

  for different end-users of the same public electronic communications service to be able to communicate with each other; and

  (b)

  for the end-users of different such services to be able, each using the service of which he is the end-user, to communicate with each other.

(4) The matters mentioned in subsection (3), in the definition of “application programme interface”, are—

(a) allowing a person to have access to programme services;

(b) allowing a person, other than a communications provider or a person who makes associated facilities available, to make use of an electronic communications network by means of which a programme service is broadcast or otherwise transmitted;

(c) allowing a person to become the end-user of a description of public electronic communications service.

(5) This section is not to be construed as restricting the provision that may be made under section 73(2).

Commencement Information

I1 S. 74 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. 74 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)