- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Communications Act 2003
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
Changes to legislation:
Communications Act 2003, Section 229 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 30 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 229:
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing SI 2003/1900, art. 3(2) by S.I. 2003/3142 art. 1(3)
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing SI 2003/3142 by S.I. 2004/1492 art. 2
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing SI 2003/3142 by S.I. 2004/697 art. 2
- specified provision(s) amendment to earlier commencing SI 2003/3142 art. 4 Sch. 2 by S.I. 2004/545 art. 2
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 124Q(7)(a) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 52
- s. 148A and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 46 s. 73(2)
- s. 368E(5)(d)(e) inserted by 2017 c. 30 s. 94(3)
- s. 402(2A)(za)(zb) inserted by 2022 c. 46 Sch. para. 2
- Sch. 3A para. 21(6) inserted by 2022 c. 46 Sch. para. 3(5)(b)
- Sch. 3A para. 37(3)(aza) inserted by 2022 c. 46 Sch. para. 3(9)
- Sch. 3A para. 84(1)(aza) inserted by 2022 c. 46 Sch. para. 3(10)
- Sch. 3A para. 103(1)(ca) inserted by 2022 c. 46 s. 70
- Sch. 3A para. 119A inserted by 2022 c. 46 s. 72
- Sch. 3A Pt. 4ZA inserted by 2022 c. 46 s. 67(1)
229Report in anticipation of new licensing roundU.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)OFCOM must, in anticipation of the end of each licensing period [F1for a type of relevant licence] —
(a)prepare a report under this section; and
(b)submit it to the Secretary of State no later than thirty months before the end of that period.
(2)A report under this section must set out OFCOM’s opinion on the effect of each of the matters mentioned in subsection (3) on the capacity of the [F2holder or holders of that type of licence] to contribute, in the next licensing period, to the fulfilment of the purposes of public service television broadcasting in the United Kingdom at a cost to the [F3licence holder or holders] that is commercially sustainable.
(3)Those matters are—
(a)the arrangements that (but for an order under section 230) would allow for the renewal of [F4that type of licence] from the end of the current licensing period; and
(b)the conditions included in the regulatory regimes for the services provided under [F5that type of licence] .
(4)A report under this section must also include the recommendations (if any) which OFCOM consider, in the light of the opinion set out in the report, should be made to the Secretary of State for the exercise by him of—
(a)his power under section 230; or
(b)any of the powers to make statutory instruments that are conferred on him by Chapter 4 of this Part.
[F6(4A)Subsection (5) applies where the Secretary of State—
(a)receives a report under this section in anticipation of the end of a licensing period for a type of relevant licence, and
(b)subsequently makes an order under section 224 extending the licensing period for that type of licence.]
(5)[F7Where this subsection applies—]
(a)[F8the Secretary of State] may require OFCOM to prepare a supplementary report in the light of the postponement of the beginning of the next licensing period [F9for that type of licence] ; and
(b)it shall be the duty of OFCOM, within such period as may be specified by the Secretary of State, to prepare the required supplementary report and to submit it to him.
(6)In this section—
“licensing period” [F10, in relation to a licence,] means—
“relevant licence” means—
(a)a licence to provide a Channel 3 service;
(b)a licence to provide Channel 5; or
(c)the licence to provide the public teletext service.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 229(1) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(7), 47(1)
F2Words in s. 229(2) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(8)(a), 47(1)
F3Words in s. 229(2) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(8)(b), 47(1)
F4Words in s. 229(3)(a) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(9), 47(1)
F5Words in s. 229(3)(b) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(9), 47(1)
F6S. 229(4A) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(10), 47(1)
F7Words in s. 229(5) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(11)(a), 47(1)
F8Word in s. 229(5)(a) substituted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(11)(b), 47(1)
F9Words in s. 229(5)(a) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(11)(b), 47(1)
F10Words in s. 229(6) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(12)(a), 47(1)
F11Words in s. 229(6) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(12)(b), 47(1)
F12Words in s. 229(6) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 26(12)(c), 47(1)
Commencement Information
I1S. 229 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThe Whole Chapter
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
Explanatory Notes
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.