{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electronic-communications-universal-service-costs-regulations-2020/regulation-15",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electronic-communications-universal-service-costs-regulations-2020/regulation-15.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2020/545",
  "legislation_title": "The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Costs) Regulations 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/electronic-communications-universal-service-costs-regulations-2020",
  "path": "regulation/15",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "15",
  "heading": "Outstanding sums and additional contributions",
  "text": "(1) For the purposes of this regulation, outstanding sum means the proportion of the amount to be collected in respect of which the universal service provider has not received compensation.\n(2) OFCOM may require additional contributions from the contributors, or such subset of them, as appear to OFCOM to be appropriate if—\n(a) one or more persons in receipt of an invoice have not paid the contribution, or additional contribution, due either in full or at all, to OFCOM by the deadline for payment;\n(b) a period of at least six months from the deadline for payment has elapsed;\n(c) OFCOM have taken such steps as appear to them to be reasonable in the circumstances to recover the outstanding sum;\n(d) OFCOM consider that the outstanding sum is material having regard to such of the matters set out in regulation 15(3) as appear to them be appropriate in that particular case;\n(e) no public funds have been committed to compensating the universal service provider for the outstanding sum; and\n(f) the universal service provider has not waived its right to the outstanding sum under regulation 16.\n(3) The matters are—\n(a) the amount to be compensated;\n(b) the contributions received by the universal service provider;\n(c) the likely costs to OFCOM and other persons associated with recovery relative to the sums to be recovered; and\n(d) any other matters which OFCOM consider to be relevant having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case.\n(4) When determining the subset of contributors from which additional contributions are to be required, OFCOM may have regard to, among other things, whether a contributor has paid its contribution or additional contribution.\n(5) Where a contribution or additional contribution is being paid in instalments, the deadline for payment referred to in regulation 15(2)(a) is the deadline for payment of the final instalment of the contribution or additional contribution.\n(6) OFCOM must determine the proportions of the outstanding sum which are to be payable by particular additional contributors, or particular categories of them.\n(7) OFCOM must use the specific turnover figures used for the purposes of calculating individual contributions to calculate individual additional contributions.\n(8) If OFCOM require additional contributions under regulation 15(2), OFCOM must send each of the additional contributors a notification which—\n(a) sets out the percentage of the overall outstanding sum that person must contribute;\n(b) sets out the amount, in pounds sterling, that person must contribute;\n(c) specifies the assumed date of payment on the basis of which the additional contribution has been calculated;\n(d) specifies, in percentage terms, the amount by which the additional contribution is to increase after the assumed date of payment referred to in paragraph (c); and\n(e) explains why additional contributions are required.\n(9) OFCOM shall collect additional contributions in accordance with the process set out in regulation 13 and shall apply the process set out in that regulation—\n(a) to additional contributors as if they were contributors; and\n(b) to additional contributions as if they were contributions.\n(10) OFCOM shall distribute additional contributions in accordance with the process set out in regulation 14.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 15(2)(e) substituted (24.12.2021) by The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1377), regs. 1, 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 15 in force at 15.6.2020, see reg. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/545/regulation/15",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T22:29:59.988031+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}