4(1)OFCOM must determine before the end of the transitional period what regulatory conditions (“initial conditions”) are to apply to postal operators on and after the appointed day.U.K.
(2)Except as mentioned below, the initial conditions applicable to—
(a)universal service providers, and
(b)other postal operators,
must be to substantially the same effect as the licence conditions applying immediately before the appointed day to the universal service provider or (as the case may be) in relation to the corresponding description of operator.
(3)Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to consumer protection conditions (and, accordingly, references elsewhere in this Schedule to initial conditions do not include consumer protection conditions).
(4)If it appears to OFCOM to be unnecessary to maintain any provision made by the existing licence conditions, sub-paragraph (2) does not require OFCOM to replicate that provision in the initial conditions.
(5)The provisions of Part 3 as to what regulatory conditions may be imposed—
(a)have effect subject to sub-paragraph (2) in their application to the imposition of initial conditions, and
(b)do not apply in relation to the modification of initial conditions.