OpenLegislation

Digital Economy Act 2017 in Scotland

2017 c. 30 · Enacted 27 April 2017 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 30 September 2026.

An Act to make provision about electronic communications infrastructure and services; to provide for restricting access to online pornography; to make provision about protection of intellectual property in connection with electronic communications; to make provision about data-sharing; to make provision in connection with section 68 of the Telecommunications Act 1984; to make provision about functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC; to provide for determination by the BBC of age-related TV licence fee concessions; to make provision about the regulation of direct marketing; to make other provision about OFCOM and its functions; to make provision about internet filters; to make provision about preventing or restricting the use of communication devices in connection with drug dealing offences; to confer power to create an offence of breaching limits on ticket sales; to make provision about the payment of charges to the Information Commissioner; to make provision about payment systems and securities settlement systems; to make provision about qualifications in information technology; and for connected purposes.

[27th April 2017]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act amendments to 2003 c. 21, by s. 89 extended to Jersey (1.6.2020) by The Communications (Jersey) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/530), art. 2

Contents

  1. Part 1: Access to digital services
  2. 1Universal service broadband obligations
  3. 2General conditions: switching communications provider
  4. 3Automatic compensation for failure to meet performance standards
  5. Part 2: Digital infrastructure
  6. Electronic communications code
  7. 4The electronic communications code
  8. 5Power to make transitional provision in connection with the code
  9. 6Power to make consequential provision etc in connection with the code
  10. 7Application of the code: protection of the environment
  11. Dynamic spectrum access services
  12. 8Regulation of dynamic spectrum access services
  13. Other regulation of spectrum
  14. 9Penalties for contravention of wireless telegraphy licences
  15. 10Fixed penalties under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  16. 11Search warrants under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  17. 12Disposal of seized property under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  18. 13Time limits for prosecutions under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  19. Part 3: Online pornography Repealed
  20. 14Internet pornography: requirement to prevent access by persons under 18 Repealed
  21. 15Meaning of “pornographic material” Repealed
  22. 16The age-verification regulator: designation and funding Repealed
  23. 17Parliamentary procedure for designation of age-verification regulator Repealed
  24. 18Regulator's power to require information Not yet in force
  25. 19Enforcement by regulator of sections 14 and 18 Not yet in force
  26. 20Financial penalties imposed by regulator Not yet in force
  27. 21Notice by regulator to payment-services providers and ancillary service providers Repealed
  28. 22Meaning of “extreme pornographic material” Repealed
  29. 23Regulator's power to require internet service providers to block access to material Not yet in force
  30. 24No power to give notice under section 23(1) where detrimental to national security etc Not yet in force
  31. 25Guidance to be published by regulator Repealed
  32. 26Exercise of functions by regulator Repealed
  33. 27Guidance by Secretary of State to regulator Repealed
  34. 28Requirements for notices given by regulator under this Part Not yet in force
  35. 29Report on this Part Not yet in force
  36. 30Interpretation and general provisions relating to this Part Repealed
  37. Part 4: Intellectual Property
  38. 31Lending of e-books by public libraries
  39. 32Offences: infringing copyright and making available right
  40. 33Registered designs: infringement: marking product with internet link
  41. 34Copyright etc where broadcast retransmitted by cable
  42. Part 5: Digital government
  43. Chapter 1: Public service delivery
  44. 35Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery
  45. 36Disclosure of information to gas and electricity suppliers etc
  46. 37Disclosure of information by gas and electricity suppliers etc
  47. 40Further provisions about disclosures under any of sections 35 to 39
  48. 41Confidentiality of personal information
  49. 42Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  50. 43Code of practice
  51. 44Regulations under this Chapter
  52. 45Interpretation of this Chapter etc
  53. Chapter 2: Civil registration
  54. 46Disclosure of information by civil registration officials
  55. 47Consequential provision
  56. Chapter 3: Debt owed to the public sector
  57. 48Disclosure of information to reduce debt owed to the public sector
  58. 49Further provisions about power in section 48
  59. 50Confidentiality of personal information
  60. 51Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  61. 52Code of practice
  62. 53Duty to review operation of Chapter
  63. 54Regulations under this Chapter
  64. 55Interpretation of this Chapter
  65. Chapter 4: Fraud against the public sector
  66. 56Disclosure of information to combat fraud against the public sector
  67. 57Further provisions about power in section 56
  68. 58Confidentiality of personal information
  69. 59Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  70. 60Code of practice
  71. 61Duty to review operation of Chapter
  72. 62Regulations under this Chapter
  73. 63Interpretation of this Chapter
  74. Chapter 5: Sharing for research purposes
  75. 64Disclosure of information for research purposes
  76. 65Provisions supplementary to section 64
  77. 66Bar on further disclosure of personal information
  78. 67Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs
  79. 68Information disclosed by the Welsh Revenue Authority
  80. 69Information disclosed by Revenue Scotland
  81. 70Code of practice
  82. 71Accreditation for the purposes of this Chapter
  83. 72Delegation of functions of the Statistics Board
  84. 73Interpretation of this Chapter
  85. Chapter 6: Disclosure by revenue authorities
  86. 74Disclosure of non-identifying information by the Revenue and Customs
  87. 75Disclosure of non-identifying information by the Welsh Revenue Authority
  88. 76Disclosure of non-identifying information by Revenue Scotland
  89. 77Disclosure of employer reference information by the Revenue and Customs
  90. Chapter 7: Statistics
  91. 78Disclosure of information by the Revenue and Customs to the Statistics Board
  92. 79Disclosure of information by public authorities to the Statistics Board
  93. 80Access to information by the Statistics Board
  94. 81Disclosure by the Statistics Board to devolved administrations
  95. Part 6: Miscellaneous
  96. OFCOM: reports etc
  97. 82OFCOM reports on infrastructure etc
  98. 83Comparative overviews of quality and prices
  99. OFCOM: information
  100. 84Conditions about allocation of telephone numbers
  101. 85Provision of information to OFCOM
  102. 86Information required from communications providers
  103. Appeals
  104. 87Appeals from decisions of OFCOM and others: standard of review
  105. Regulation and functions of BBC
  106. 88Functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC
  107. 89TV licence fee concessions by reference to age
  108. Provision of children's programmes
  109. 90Provision of children's programmes
  110. OFCOM powers relating to criminal content etc
  111. 91Suspension of radio licences for inciting crime or disorder
  112. 92Digital additional services: seriously harmful extrinsic material
  113. On-demand programme services
  114. 93On-demand programme services: accessibility for people with disabilities Repealed
  115. 94On-demand programme services: specially restricted material Not yet in force
  116. Electronic Programme Guides
  117. 95Electronic programme guides and public service channels
  118. Direct marketing code
  119. 96Direct marketing code
  120. Televising events of national interest
  121. 97Televising events of national interest: power to amend qualifying conditions
  122. Other provisions relating to OFCOM
  123. 98Strategic priorities and provision of information
  124. 99OFCOM and Northern Ireland
  125. 100Retention by OFCOM of amounts paid under Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
  126. 101International recognition of satellite frequency assignments: power of OFCOM to charge fees
  127. Billing limits for mobile phones
  128. 102Billing limits for mobile phones
  129. Online social media platforms
  130. 103Code of practice for providers of online social media platforms Repealed
  131. Internet filters
  132. 104Internet filters
  133. Ticket sales
  134. 105Secondary ticketing: duty to provide information about tickets
  135. 106Power to create offence of breaching limits on internet and other ticket sales
  136. Communication devices used for drug dealing
  137. 107Prevention or restriction of use of communication devices for drug dealing
  138. Charges payable to the Information Commissioner
  139. 108Regulations about charges payable to the Information Commissioner Repealed
  140. 109Functions relating to regulations under section 108 Repealed
  141. 110Supplementary provision relating to section 108 Repealed
  142. 111Amendments relating to section 108
  143. Payment and securities settlement systems
  144. 112Power to apply settlement finality regime to payment institutions
  145. 113Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  146. Qualifications in information technology
  147. Guarantee of pension liabilities under Telecommunications Act 1984
  148. 115Guarantee of pension liabilities under Telecommunications Act 1984
  149. 116Regulations under section 115
  150. Part 7: General
  151. 117Financial provisions
  152. 118Commencement
  153. 119Extent
  154. 120Short title
  155. Schedule 1: The electronic communications code
  156. Paragraph
  157. Schedule 2: The electronic communications code: transitional provision
  158. Interpretation
  159. 1Paragraph 1
  160. Effect of subsisting agreement
  161. 2Paragraph 2
  162. Limitation of code rights
  163. 3Paragraph 3
  164. Limitation of persons bound
  165. 4Paragraph 4
  166. Exclusion of assignment ... provisions
  167. 5Paragraph 5
  168. Upgrading and sharing provisions
  169. 5AParagraph 5A
  170. Termination and modification of agreements
  171. 6Paragraph 6
  172. 7Paragraph 7
  173. Apparatus, works etc
  174. 8Paragraph 8
  175. 9Paragraph 9
  176. 10Paragraph 10
  177. Court applications for required rights etc
  178. 11Paragraph 11
  179. 12Paragraph 12
  180. Temporary code rights
  181. 13Paragraph 13
  182. Compensation
  183. 14Paragraph 14
  184. Objections in relation to apparatus
  185. 15Paragraph 15
  186. 16Paragraph 16
  187. 17Paragraph 17
  188. Tree lopping
  189. 18Paragraph 18
  190. 19Paragraph 19
  191. Right to require removal of apparatus
  192. 20Paragraph 20
  193. Undertaker's works
  194. 21Paragraph 21
  195. Supplementary
  196. 22Paragraph 22
  197. 23Paragraph 23
  198. 24Paragraph 24
  199. 25Paragraph 25
  200. Schedule 3: Electronic communications code: consequential amendments
  201. Part 1: General provision
  202. Interpretation
  203. 1Paragraph 1
  204. References to the code or provisions of the code
  205. 2Paragraph 2
  206. References to a conduit system
  207. 3Paragraph 3
  208. Part 2: Amendments of particular enactments
  209. Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (c. 56)
  210. 4Paragraph 4
  211. Opencast Coal Act 1958 (c. 69)
  212. 5Paragraph 5
  213. Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1958 (c. 24)
  214. 6Paragraph 6
  215. Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58)
  216. 7Paragraph 7
  217. Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
  218. 8Paragraph 8
  219. Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41)
  220. 9Paragraph 9
  221. Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  222. 10Paragraph 10
  223. 11Paragraph 11
  224. 12Paragraph 12
  225. Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54)
  226. 13Paragraph 13
  227. 14Paragraph 14
  228. 15Paragraph 15
  229. 16Paragraph 16
  230. Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
  231. 17Paragraph 17
  232. 18Paragraph 18
  233. 19Paragraph 19
  234. 20Paragraph 20
  235. Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (c. 48)
  236. 21Paragraph 21
  237. 22Paragraph 22
  238. 23Paragraph 23
  239. Airports Act 1986 (c. 31)
  240. 24Paragraph 24
  241. 25Paragraph 25
  242. Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (c. 31)
  243. 26Paragraph 26
  244. Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22)
  245. 27Paragraph 27
  246. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  247. 28Paragraph 28
  248. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
  249. 29Paragraph 29
  250. Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
  251. 30Paragraph 30
  252. Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  253. 31Paragraph 31
  254. Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/231)
  255. 32Paragraph 32
  256. Cardiff Bay Barrage Act 1993 (c. 42)
  257. 33Paragraph 33
  258. Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/3160)
  259. 34Paragraph 34
  260. Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/426)
  261. 35Paragraph 35
  262. Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 (c. 30)
  263. 36Paragraph 36
  264. Gas Act 1995 (c. 45)
  265. 37Paragraph 37
  266. Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (c. 61)
  267. 38Paragraph 38
  268. Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/275)
  269. 39Paragraph 39
  270. Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (SI 1996/725 (NI 5))
  271. 40Paragraph 40
  272. Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8)
  273. 41Paragraph 41
  274. Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)
  275. 42Paragraph 42
  276. 43Paragraph 43
  277. 44Paragraph 44
  278. Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)
  279. 45Paragraph 45
  280. 46Paragraph 46
  281. 47Paragraph 47
  282. 48Paragraph 48
  283. Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 2)
  284. 49Paragraph 49
  285. Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17)
  286. 50Paragraph 50
  287. 51Paragraph 51
  288. 52Paragraph 52
  289. 53Paragraph 53
  290. Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18)
  291. 54Paragraph 54
  292. Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 5)
  293. 55Paragraph 55
  294. 56Paragraph 56
  295. 57Paragraph 57
  296. Schedule 4: Public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of section 35
  297. 1Paragraph 1
  298. 2Paragraph 2
  299. 3Paragraph 3
  300. 4Paragraph 4
  301. 5Paragraph 5
  302. 6Paragraph 6
  303. 7Paragraph 7
  304. 8Paragraph 8
  305. 9Paragraph 9
  306. 9AParagraph 9A
  307. 9BParagraph 9B
  308. 10Paragraph 10
  309. 11Paragraph 11
  310. 12Paragraph 12
  311. 13Paragraph 13
  312. 14Paragraph 14
  313. 15Paragraph 15
  314. 16Paragraph 16
  315. 17Paragraph 17
  316. 18Paragraph 18
  317. 19Paragraph 19
  318. 20Paragraph 20
  319. 21Paragraph 21
  320. 22Paragraph 22
  321. 23Paragraph 23
  322. 24Paragraph 24
  323. 25Paragraph 25
  324. 26Paragraph 26
  325. 27Paragraph 27
  326. 27AParagraph 27A
  327. 27BParagraph 27B
  328. 27CParagraph 27C
  329. 27DParagraph 27D
  330. 28Paragraph 28
  331. 28AParagraph 28A
  332. 29Paragraph 29
  333. 30Paragraph 30
  334. 31Paragraph 31
  335. 32Paragraph 32
  336. 33Paragraph 33
  337. 34Paragraph 34
  338. 36Paragraph 36
  339. 37Paragraph 37
  340. 39Paragraph 39
  341. 40Paragraph 40
  342. 41Paragraph 41
  343. 42Paragraph 42
  344. 43Paragraph 43
  345. 44Paragraph 44
  346. 45Paragraph 45
  347. 46Paragraph 46
  348. 47Paragraph 47
  349. 48Paragraph 48
  350. Part 3: SCOTTISH BODIES
  351. 49Paragraph 49
  352. 50Paragraph 50
  353. 51Paragraph 51
  354. 52Paragraph 52
  355. Schedule 5: Public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of sections 36 and 37
  356. 1Paragraph 1
  357. 2Paragraph 2
  358. 3Paragraph 3
  359. 4Paragraph 4
  360. 5Paragraph 5
  361. 6Paragraph 6
  362. 7Paragraph 7
  363. 8Paragraph 8
  364. 9Paragraph 9
  365. 10Paragraph 10
  366. 11Paragraph 11
  367. 12Paragraph 12
  368. 13Paragraph 13
  369. 14Paragraph 14
  370. 15Paragraph 15
  371. 16Paragraph 16
  372. 17Paragraph 17
  373. 18Paragraph 18
  374. 19Paragraph 19
  375. 20Paragraph 20
  376. 21Paragraph 21
  377. 22Paragraph 22
  378. 23Paragraph 23
  379. 24Paragraph 24
  380. 25Paragraph 25
  381. 26Paragraph 26
  382. 27Paragraph 27
  383. 28Paragraph 28
  384. 29Paragraph 29
  385. 30Paragraph 30
  386. 31Paragraph 31
  387. 32Paragraph 32
  388. Part 1: UK AND ENGLISH BODIES
  389. 1Paragraph 1
  390. 3Paragraph 3
  391. 4Paragraph 4
  392. 5Paragraph 5
  393. 6Paragraph 6
  394. 7Paragraph 7
  395. 8Paragraph 8
  396. 9Paragraph 9
  397. 10Paragraph 10
  398. 11Paragraph 11
  399. 13Paragraph 13
  400. 14Paragraph 14
  401. 15Paragraph 15
  402. 16Paragraph 16
  403. 17Paragraph 17
  404. 18Paragraph 18
  405. 19Paragraph 19
  406. 20Paragraph 20
  407. 21Paragraph 21
  408. 22Paragraph 22
  409. 23Paragraph 23
  410. 24Paragraph 24
  411. 25Paragraph 25
  412. Schedule 7: Specified persons for the purposes of the debt provisions
  413. 1Paragraph 1
  414. 2Paragraph 2
  415. 3Paragraph 3
  416. 4Paragraph 4
  417. 5Paragraph 5
  418. 5AParagraph 5A
  419. 5BParagraph 5B
  420. 6Paragraph 6
  421. 7Paragraph 7
  422. 8Paragraph 8
  423. 9Paragraph 9
  424. 10Paragraph 10
  425. 11Paragraph 11
  426. 12Paragraph 12
  427. 13Paragraph 13
  428. 14Paragraph 14
  429. 15Paragraph 15
  430. 16Paragraph 16
  431. 17Paragraph 17
  432. 17AParagraph 17A
  433. 18Paragraph 18
  434. 19Paragraph 19
  435. 20Paragraph 20
  436. 21Paragraph 21
  437. 22Paragraph 22
  438. 23Paragraph 23
  439. 24Paragraph 24
  440. Part 3: SCOTTISH BODIES
  441. 25Paragraph 25
  442. 26Paragraph 26
  443. 27Paragraph 27
  444. 28Paragraph 28
  445. 29Paragraph 29
  446. 30Paragraph 30
  447. 31Paragraph 31
  448. 32Paragraph 32
  449. 33Paragraph 33
  450. 34Paragraph 34
  451. 35Paragraph 35
  452. 36Paragraph 36
  453. 37Paragraph 37
  454. 38Paragraph 38
  455. 39Paragraph 39
  456. Schedule 8: Specified persons for the purposes of the fraud provisions
  457. 1Paragraph 1
  458. 2Paragraph 2
  459. 3Paragraph 3
  460. 4Paragraph 4
  461. 5Paragraph 5
  462. 6Paragraph 6
  463. 7Paragraph 7
  464. 8Paragraph 8
  465. 9Paragraph 9
  466. 10Paragraph 10
  467. 11Paragraph 11
  468. 12Paragraph 12
  469. 12AParagraph 12A
  470. 12BParagraph 12B
  471. 13Paragraph 13
  472. 14Paragraph 14
  473. 15Paragraph 15
  474. 16Paragraph 16
  475. 17Paragraph 17
  476. 18Paragraph 18
  477. 19Paragraph 19
  478. 20Paragraph 20
  479. 21Paragraph 21
  480. 22Paragraph 22
  481. 23Paragraph 23
  482. 24Paragraph 24
  483. 25Paragraph 25
  484. 26Paragraph 26
  485. 27Paragraph 27
  486. 28Paragraph 28
  487. 29Paragraph 29
  488. 30Paragraph 30
  489. 31Paragraph 31
  490. 32Paragraph 32
  491. 32AParagraph 32A
  492. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  493. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  494. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  495. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  496. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  497. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  498. 39Paragraph 39 Repealed
  499. 40Paragraph 40 Repealed
  500. 41Paragraph 41
  501. 41AParagraph 41A
  502. 42Paragraph 42
  503. 43Paragraph 43
  504. 44Paragraph 44
  505. 45Paragraph 45
  506. 46Paragraph 46
  507. 47Paragraph 47
  508. 48Paragraph 48
  509. 49Paragraph 49
  510. 50Paragraph 50
  511. 51Paragraph 51
  512. 52Paragraph 52
  513. 53Paragraph 53
  514. 54Paragraph 54
  515. 55Paragraph 55
  516. 56Paragraph 56
  517. Part 3: SCOTTISH BODIES
  518. 57Paragraph 57
  519. 58Paragraph 58
  520. 59Paragraph 59
  521. 60Paragraph 60
  522. 61Paragraph 61
  523. 62Paragraph 62
  524. 63Paragraph 63
  525. 64Paragraph 64
  526. 65Paragraph 65
  527. 66Paragraph 66
  528. 67Paragraph 67
  529. 68Paragraph 68
  530. 69Paragraph 69
  531. 70Paragraph 70
  532. 71Paragraph 71
  533. 72Paragraph 72
  534. 73Paragraph 73
  535. 74Paragraph 74
  536. Schedule 9: Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  537. Part 1: Extension of Bank of England oversight of payment systems
  538. 1Paragraph 1
  539. 2Paragraph 2
  540. 3Paragraph 3
  541. 4Paragraph 4
  542. 5Paragraph 5
  543. 6Paragraph 6
  544. 7Paragraph 7
  545. 8Paragraph 8
  546. 9Paragraph 9
  547. 10Paragraph 10
  548. 11Paragraph 11
  549. 12Paragraph 12
  550. 13Paragraph 13
  551. 14Paragraph 14
  552. 15Paragraph 15
  553. 16Paragraph 16
  554. 17Paragraph 17
  555. 18Paragraph 18
  556. 19Paragraph 19
  557. 20Paragraph 20
  558. 21Paragraph 21
  559. 22Paragraph 22
  560. 23Paragraph 23
  561. 24Paragraph 24
  562. 25Paragraph 25
  563. 26Paragraph 26
  564. 27Paragraph 27
  565. 28Paragraph 28
  566. 29Paragraph 29
  567. 30Paragraph 30
  568. Part 2: Consequential amendments
  569. Financial Services Act 2012
  570. 31Paragraph 31
  571. 32Paragraph 32
  572. 33Paragraph 33
  573. 34Paragraph 34
  574. Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013
  575. 35Paragraph 35
  576. 36Paragraph 36
  577. 37Paragraph 37
  578. 38Paragraph 38
  579. 39Paragraph 39
  580. 40Paragraph 40
  581. 41Paragraph 41
  582. 42Paragraph 42
  583. 43Paragraph 43
  584. 44Paragraph 44
  585. 45Paragraph 45