{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003/section-139B",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003/section-139B.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/21",
  "legislation_title": "Communications Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003",
  "path": "section/139B",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "139B",
  "heading": "Power to deal with urgent cases",
  "text": "(1) This section applies where OFCOM determine—\n(a) that they are entitled to give a notification under section 138 with respect to a contravention by a person (“P”) of a requirement imposed under section 135 or 136;\n(b) that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the case is an urgent case; and\n(c) that the urgency of the case makes it appropriate for OFCOM to take action under this section.\n(2) A case is an urgent case for the purposes of this section if the contravention has resulted in, or creates an immediate risk of—\n(a) a serious threat to the safety of the public, to public health or to national security;\n(b) serious economic or operational problems for persons (other than P) who are communications providers or persons who make associated facilities available; or\n(c) serious economic or operational problems for persons who make use of electronic communications networks, electronic communications services or associated facilities.\n(3) OFCOM may give P a direction—\n(a) that the entitlement of P to provide electronic communications networks or electronic communications services, or to make associated facilities available, is suspended (either generally or in relation to particular networks, services or facilities); or\n(b) that that entitlement is restricted in the respects set out in the direction.\n(4) Subsections (3) to (6) of section 140 apply in relation to a direction under subsection (3) as they apply in relation to a direction under section 140.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 139A-139C inserted (26.5.2011) by The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1210), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 83 (with Sch. 3 paras. 2, 18)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/139B",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:18:16.154105+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}