The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2011

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2011.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 26th May 2011.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), these Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(4) Paragraphs 2 and 101 of Schedule 1 extend to England and Wales only.

(5) Paragraph 102 of that Schedule extends to Scotland only.

Implementation of Directives 2009/136/EC and 2009/140/EC

2.—(1) Schedule 1 (which contains provision amending the Communications Act 2003(1) and other enactments for the purpose of implementing Directive 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) and Directive 2009/140/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(3)) has effect.

(2) Schedule 2 (which contains provision amending the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006(4) for the purpose of implementing Directive 2009/140/EC) has effect.

6 month period for deciding application to install facilities

3.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person authorised to provide public electronic communications networks applies to a competent authority for the granting of rights to install facilities on, over or under public or private property for the purposes of such a network,

(b) a person authorised to provide electronic communications networks other than to the public applies to a competent authority for the granting of rights to install facilities on, over or under public property for the purposes of such a network, or

(c) a person applies to OFCOM for a direction applying the electronic communications code in the person’s case.

(2) Except in cases of expropriation, the competent authority must make its decision within 6 months of receiving the completed application.

(3) In this regulation “public electronic communications network”, “electronic communications network” and “OFCOM” have the same meanings as in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Communications Act 2003(5).

Transitional provisions

4.  Schedule 3 (which contains transitional and saving provisions) has effect.

Review of implementation

5.—(1) Before the end of each review period the Secretary of State must—

(a) carry out a review of the implementation in the United Kingdom of the listed EU Directives,

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report, and

(c) publish the report.

(2) In carrying out the review the Secretary of State must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the listed EU Directives are implemented in other member States.

(3) The report must in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the implementation in the United Kingdom of the listed EU Directives,

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved, and

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

(4) “Review period” means—

(a) the period of five years beginning with 26th May 2011, and

(b) subject to paragraph (5), each successive period of five years.

(5) If a report under this regulation is published before the last day of the review period to which it relates, the following review period is to begin with the day on which that report is published.

(6) The listed EU Directives are—

(a) Directive 2002/19/EC(6) of the European Parliament and of the Council on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities,

(b) Directive 2002/20/EC(7) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services,

(c) Directive 2002/21/EC(8) of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, and

(d) Directive 2002/22/EC(9) of the European Parliament and of the Council on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services.

Ed Vaizey

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

4th May 2011