2010 No. 2512

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption and Amendment) Regulations 2010

Made

Coming into force

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) make the following Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 8(3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 20061(“the Act”).

Before making these Regulations OFCOM have given notice of their proposal to do so in accordance with section 122(4)(a) of the Act, published notice of their proposal in accordance with section 122(4)(b) of the Act and have considered the representations made to them before the time specified in that notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption and Amendment) Regulations 2010 and shall come into force on 1st November 2010.

Interpretation2

In these Regulations—

  • “the Act” means the Wireless Telegraphy Act 20062; and

  • “GHz” means gigahertz.

Revocations and amendments3

1

The Regulations specified in the Schedule are revoked to the extent specified.

2

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 20033 are amended as follows—

a

in Regulation 3, for the definition of “relevant apparatus”, for “Schedules 3 to 11” substitute “Schedules 3 to 10”.

b

in Schedule 3 (network user stations)—

i

in Part III paragraph 3 sub-paragraph (c), under the last entry in the column, insert—

880.1–914.9 (MTx)

925.1–959.9 (BTx)

1710.1–1785 (MTx)

1805.1–1880 (BTx)

ii

in Part IV (interface requirement), for “June 2005”, substitute “October 2010”.

Railway level crossing radar4

The establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus complying with the publication “IR 2080 – UK Interface Requirement 2080, Railway Level Crossing Radar Sensor Systems”4, is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

a

it does not cause or contribute to any undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

b

it is not established, installed or used within twenty kilometres of any of the following locations (expressed by latitude and longitude coordinates)—

i

02° 18’ 22.8” W 53° 14’ 06.7” N;

ii

00° 02’ 12.4” E 52° 10’ 00.0” N;

iii

02° 08′ 40.1” W 52° 06’ 02.0” N;

iv

02° 32’ 08.5” W 53° 09’ 22.7” N;

v

02° 59’ 49.6” W 52° 47’ 25.1” N; and

vi

02° 26’ 43.5” W 53° 17’ 19.1” N.

Short range devices5

The establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus complying with an interface requirement which forms part of the publication “IR2030 — UK Interface Requirements 2030, Licence Exempt Short Range Devices”5, is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

a

it does not cause or contribute to any undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

b

in cases where the interface requirement does not state that airborne use is permitted, use is not airborne.

Fixed wireless systems6

The establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus complying with the publication “IR 2078, UK Interface Requirement 2078, Fixed Wireless Systems in the frequency band 57.1 to 63.9 GHz”6, is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

a

it does not cause or contribute to any undue interference to any wireless telegraphy;

b

use is not airborne; and

c

any stations or apparatus operating in the frequency band 59 to 63.9 GHz are not established, installed or used within six kilometres of any of the following locations (expressed by latitude and longitude coordinates)—

i

07° 23’ 36.6” W, 57° 21’ 3.6” N;

ii

04° 58’ 21” W, 51° 37’ 16.8” N; and

iii

00° 36’ 22.8” W, 52° 38’ 1.8” N.

High density fixed satellite service systems7

The establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus complying with the publication “IR 2066, UK Interface Requirement 2066, High Density Fixed Satellite Service Systems”7, is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

a

it does not cause or contribute to any undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

b

use is not airborne.

Ed RichardsChief Executive of the Office of CommunicationsFor and by authority of the Office of Communications

SCHEDULEREVOCATIONS

Regulation 3

Regulations revoked

References

Extent of revocation

The Wireless Telegraphy (Short-Range Devices)(Exemption) Regulations 2009

S.I. 2009/1812

The whole Regulations

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2003

S.I. 2003/74

Regulation 4(3)(d)

Regulation 4(4)(c)

Schedule 6

Schedule 8

Schedule 9

Schedule 11

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations exempt the establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus from the requirement to be licensed under section 8(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c.36).

Regulation 3(1) revokes the Wireless Telegraphy (Short Range Devices) (Exemption) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1812) and Regulation 3(2)(a) amends the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/74), to remove provisions that are replaced by Regulations 5, 6 and 7 as set out below.

Regulation 3(2)(b) amends Schedule 3 of S.I. 2003/74, adding new frequencies to the list of frequencies within which UMTS user terminals are permitted to operate.

Regulation 4 exempts railway level crossing radar (a safety device), subject to terms and limitations including three exclusion zones.

Regulation 5 of these Regulations re-enacts, with modifications of substance, Schedules 6 and 9 of S.I. 2003/74 and S.I. 2009/1812. It extends the exemptions provided to give effect to EU obligations which are contained in Commission Decision 2010/368/EU amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices. In addition, it extends exemptions for underwater devices, inductive devices, vehicle radar, wireless cameras, technologies at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, Wireless Access Systems at 5 GHz, and technologies at 869.3 to 869.4 MHz.

Regulations 6 and 7 of these Regulations re-enact, with modifications, Schedules 8 and 11 of S.I. 2003/74. They make the following changes of substance. Regulation 6 of these Regulations replaces Schedule 8 of S.I. 2003/74, extending the exempt frequency band of operation from 58.9 GHz to 63.9 GHz, subject to six exclusion zones. Regulation 7 of these Regulations replaces Schedule 11 of S.I. 2003/74, increasing the permitted power in the frequency band 29.4625 to 30 GHz from 50 dbW to 55 dbW.

Interface requirements are published by OFCOM in accordance with Article 4.1 of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity. Copies of interface requirements referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from OFCOM at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA and are available on the OFCOM website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs to business is available to the public from OFCOM’s website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk or from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2A Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (Tel: 020 7981 3000). Copies of this assessment have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.