Amendment of the Broadcasting Act 1996

3.  In section 58 (duration and renewal of national or local radio multiplex licences)—

(a) in subsection (2)(1), at the beginning insert “Subject to subsection (2A),”;

(b) after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) A national radio multiplex licence granted (or renewed under this section) before the commencement of this subsection may be renewed (or further renewed) in accordance with this section for a period ending with 31st December 2035.”;

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) An application for the renewal of a national radio multiplex licence under subsection (2A) may be made by the licence holder not later than the relevant date.”;

(d) in paragraph (a) of subsection (12A)(2), after “date determined” insert “, subject to subsection (12B)”;

(e) after subsection (12A) insert—

“(12B) Subsection (12A)(a) does not prevent a determination for the purposes of subsection (12) being made less than one year before the date determined where—

(a) the renewal of the licence in question would be a renewal under subsection (2A), and

(b) the determination is made as soon as practicable after the commencement of this subsection.”.

(1)

Subsection (2) was amended by section 261 of the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21) and S.I. 2015/904.

(2)

Subsection (12A) was inserted by section 360(3) of, and paragraph 117 of Schedule 15 to, the Communications Act 2003.