Explanatory note

This Order gives a number of directions to the Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) in relation to the provision of local television services in the UK.

Article 3(1) of the Order directs OFCOM to ensure that, at every place in the United Kingdom, one broadcasting channel is kept available, or is made available, for the purposes of multiplex broadcasting of a local digital television programme service.  OFCOM will carry out this duty by allocating, across the United Kingdom, a broadcasting channel from the list of packaged frequencies specified in the Schedule to the Order.

Article 3(2) requires that every broadcasting channel allocated by OFCOM in pursuance of its duty at article 3(1) must have sufficient capacity to carry a local digital television programme service as a standard definition television service, together with any ancillary services (“standard definition television service” and “ancillary service” are defined in article 2 of the Order). In addition, every broadcasting channel allocated by OFCOM under article 3(1) must have sufficient capacity to carry two further standard definition television services.

Article 4(a) directs OFCOM, wherever they grant a local television multiplex licence, to also grant a licence under section 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (a “wireless telegraphy licence”). Article 4(b) directs OFCOM to exercise their functions to vary or revoke any such wireless telegraphy licence to the extent necessary to match any changes to the places where the licensee is authorised to broadcast by variations to the multiplex licence.

Article 5 provides that if, immediately before 1 January 2019, OFCOM have kept available a broadcasting channel in a particular place in the United Kingdom in accordance with their duty under article 3(1), and that channel has not been used by a local multiplex licensee for the purposes set out in article 3(1), OFCOM’s duty to keep that channel available or make it available shall cease to have effect on that date in that particular place.

Article 6 provides that where, in a particular place in the United Kingdom, in OFCOM’s opinion the keeping or making available of a broadcasting channel in accordance with article 3, and the installation or use of wireless telegraphy apparatus in that place in accordance with a wireless telegraphy licence granted under article 4, would cause undue interference to existing television multiplex transmissions in that place, OFCOM’s duties under articles 3 and 4 do not apply in relation to that place.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (www.culture.gov.uk) and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.