{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003/section-305",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003/section-305.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/21",
  "legislation_title": "Communications Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/communications-act-2003",
  "path": "section/305",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "305",
  "heading": "Meaning of “relevant date” in s. 303",
  "text": "(1) In relation to a service, the relevant date for the purposes of section 303 is—\n(a) in a case to which any of subsections (2) to (4) applies, the date given by that subsection; and\n(b) in any other case, the date (whether before or after the passing of this Act) when the provision of that service began or begins.\n(2) In the case of a service the provision of which began before the television transfer date but which is not—\n(a) a service provided by S4C,\n(b) a licensed public service channel, or\n(c) a digital television programme service,\nthe relevant date is the date of the coming into force of this section.\n(3) In the case of—\n(a) a Channel 3 service the provision of which began before the date of the passing of this Act, and\n(b) Channel 4 and S4C Digital,\nthe relevant date is 1st January 2000.\n(4) In the case of Channel 5, so far as it consists of a service the provision of which began before the date of the passing of this Act, the relevant date is 1st January 1998.\n(5) OFCOM may determine that a service provided by a person is to be treated for the purposes of section 303 and this section as a continuation of a service previously provided by him.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in s. 305(2)(a) substituted (23.8.2024) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), s. 55(3)(c), Sch. 4 para. 37; S.I. 2024/858, reg. 2(1)(x)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 305 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/305",
    "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."
  }
}