Digital Economy Act 2010

26Initial expiry date: consequential provision

(1)Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Communications Act 2003 (regulatory structure for independent television services) is amended as follows.

(2)In each of sections 214(6) and 216(12) (definition of “licensing period” for Channels 3 and 5)—

(a)in the opening words, after “licensing period” insert “, in relation to a licence,”,

(b)in paragraph (a), at the end (but before “or”) insert “for that type of licence”, and

(c)in paragraph (b), at the end insert “for that type of licence”.

(3)In each of sections 219(3) and 222(12) (definition of “licensing period” for public teletext service)—

(a)in paragraph (a), at the end (but before “or”) insert “for the licence to provide the public teletext service”, and

(b)in paragraph (b), at the end insert “for that type of licence”.

(4)In section 225(3) (period for review of financial terms of replacement Channel 3 and 5 and public teletext licences), after “initial expiry date” insert “for that type of licence”.

(5)In section 228(8) (giving effect to review of financial terms of replacement licence), in the definition of “licensing period”—

(a)after ““licensing period”” insert “, in relation to a licence,”,

(b)in paragraph (a), at the end (but before “or”) insert “for that type of licence”, and

(c)in paragraph (b), at the end insert “for that type of licence”.

(6)Section 229 (report in anticipation of new licensing round) is amended as follows.

(7)In subsection (1), after “licensing period” insert “for a type of relevant licence”.

(8)In subsection (2)—

(a)for “holders of relevant licences” substitute “holder or holders of that type of licence”, and

(b)for “licence holders” substitute “licence holder or holders”.

(9)In subsection (3)(a) and (b), for “relevant licences” substitute “that type of licence”.

(10)After subsection (4) insert—

“(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.”

(11)In subsection (5)—

(a)for the words from the beginning to “the order—” substitute “Where this subsection applies—”, and

(b)in paragraph (a), for “he” substitute “the Secretary of State” and at the end (but before “and”) insert “for that type of licence”.

(12)In subsection (6), in the definition of “licensing period”—

(a)in the opening words, after ““licensing period”” insert “, in relation to a licence,”,

(b)in paragraph (a), at the end (but before “or”) insert “for that type of licence”, and

(c)in paragraph (b), at the end insert “for that type of licence”.

(13)Section 230 (orders suspending rights of renewal) is amended as follows.

(14)In subsection (2), for “licences for the time being in force that are of a description specified in the order are” substitute “a licence for the time being in force that is of a description specified in the order is”.

(15)In that subsection, at the end insert “(but see subsection (7))”.

(16)In each of subsections (3), (4), (5) and (8)(b), for “licences” substitute “a licence”.

(17)In subsection (7), for “Channel 3 licences” substitute “a Channel 3 licence”.

(18)In subsection (11), in the definition of “initial licensing period”—

(a)after ““initial licensing period”” insert “, in relation to a licence,”, and

(b)at the end (but before “and”) insert “for that type of licence”.