Telecommunications Act 1984

24Approval etc. of meters

(1)Where licences granted under section 7 above include provisions which are framed by reference to meters for the time being approved under this section for use in connection with telecommunication systems to which the licences relate, then, for the purposes of those provisions, meters may be approved for use in connection with those systems—

(a)by the Secretary of State; or

(b)with the consent of, or in accordance with a general authorisation given by, the Secretary of State, by the Director.

(2)A person applying for an approval under this section may be required by the person to whom the application is made to comply with such requirements as the person to whom the application is made may think appropriate ; and those requirements may include a requirement to satisfy some other person with respect to any matter.

(3)An approval under this section may apply either to a particular meter or to any meter of a description specified in the approval, and may so apply either for the purposes of a particular telecommunication system or for the purposes of any telecommunication system of a description so specified.

(4)An approval under this section may specify conditions which must be complied with if the approval is to apply, for any purpose specified in the approval, to any meter which is so specified or is of a description so specified; and any such condition may impose on the person to whom the approval is given a requirement from time to time to satisfy any person with respect to any matter.

(5)Nothing in this section shall preclude a person (not being the Secretary of State or the Director) by whom any matter falls to be determined for the purposes of any requirement imposed in pursuance of subsection (2) or (4) above from charging any fee in respect of the carrying out of any test or other assessment made by him.

(6)Standards to which any meter of a description specified in the designation must conform if it is to be approved for use in connection with a telecommunication system so specified or of a description so specified may be designated—

(a)by the Secretary of State ; or

(b)with the consent of, or in accordance with a general authorisation given by, the Secretary of State, by the Director;

and a standard so designated may apply subject to such exceptions as may be determined by or under the designation.

(7)A designation under this section may specify conditions which must be complied with if any meter of a description specified in the designation is to be regarded, for any purposes so specified, as conforming to the standard to which the designation relates.

(8)A meter shall not be approved under this section for use in connection with any telecommunication system unless either—

(a)the meter conforms to a standard designated under this section which applies to it for the purposes of that system; or

(b)the Secretary of State or the Director is satisfied that, if used in connection with that system in accordance with the approval, the meter would be sufficiently accurate and reliable.

(9)Before giving an approval under this section by virtue of subsection (8)(i) above or designating a standard under this section, the Secretary of State or the Director shall give notice—

(a)stating that he proposes to give the approval or make the designation and setting out its effect;

(b)stating any conditions which he proposes to specify in the approval or designation ; and

(c)specifying the time (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed approval or designation may be made,

and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

(10)A notice under subsection (9) above shall be given by sending a copy of the notice—

(a)in the case of an approval, to the person applying for the approval;

(b)in the case of a designation, to the person running the system,

and (in either case) to such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State or the Director considers appropriate.

(11)Any power conferred by this section to give an approval or designate a standard includes power to vary or withdraw an approval given or designation made in the exercise of that power.

(12)The Secretary of State shall send to the Director—

(a)a copy of every approval given or designation made by him under this section ; and

(b)particulars of every variation or withdrawal of an approval so given or a designation so made.

(13)The Secretary of State may by order provide for the charging of fees in respect of the exercise of any functions conferred by or under this section.

(14)Any sums received by the Secretary of State or the Director under this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(15)In this section "meter" means any system or apparatus constructed or adapted for use in ascertaining the extent of telecommunication services provided by means of a telecommunication system.