- 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 over time for: Section 403
Alternative versions:
Changes to legislation:
Communications Act 2003, Section 403 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 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 403:
- 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)
403Regulations and orders made by OFCOMU.K.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)This section applies to any power of OFCOM to make regulations or to make an order or scheme if that power is one to which this section is expressly applied.
(2)The powers to which this section applies shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 (c. 36) is to apply in relation to those powers as if OFCOM were a Minister of the Crown.
(3)Where an instrument made under a power to which this section applies falls to be laid before Parliament, OFCOM must, immediately after it is made, send it to the Secretary of State for laying by him.
(4)Before making any regulations or order under a power to which this section applies, OFCOM must—
(a)give a notice of their proposal to do so to such persons representative of the persons appearing to OFCOM to be likely to be affected by the implementation of the proposal as OFCOM think fit;
(b)publish notice of their proposal in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons who, in their opinion, are likely to be affected by it and are not given notice by virtue of paragraph (a); and
(c)consider any representations that are made to OFCOM, before the time specified in the notice.
(5)A notice for the purposes of subsection (4) must—
(a)state that OFCOM propose to make the regulations or order in question;
(b)set out the general effect of the regulations or order;
(c)specify an address from which a copy of the proposed regulations or order may be obtained; and
(d)specify a time before which any representations with respect to the proposal must be made to OFCOM.
(6)The time specified for the purposes of subsection (5)(d) must be no earlier than the end of the period of [F130 days] beginning with the day after the latest day on which the notice is given or published for the purposes of subsection (4).
(7)Every power of OFCOM to which this section applies includes power—
(a)to make different provision for different cases (including different provision in respect of different areas);
(b)to make provision subject to such exemptions and exceptions as OFCOM think fit; and
(c)to make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as OFCOM think fit.
(8)The Documentary Evidence Act 1868 (c. 37) (proof of orders and regulations etc.) shall have effect as if—
(a)OFCOM were included in the first column of the Schedule to that Act;
(b)OFCOM and persons authorised to act on their behalf were mentioned in the second column of that Schedule.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 403(6) substituted (21.12.2020) by The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) (European Electronic Communications Code and EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 63
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 403 applied by 1998 c. 6, s. 6 (as substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), s. 411(2), Sch. 17 para. 150 (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11))
C2S. 403 applied by 1996 c. 55, s. 104ZA(3) (as inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 302(1), 411(2) (with Sch. 18 para. 51(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11))
C3S. 403 applied (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), ss. 63, 93(2), (3); S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3
Commencement Information
I1S. 403 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))
I2S. 403 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)
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
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.