Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for the exemption from the licensing requirements of section 1(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (“the Act”) of Mobile Earth Stations which send low bit rate data communications by wireless telegraphy via a Land MobileSatellite Service provided by or through the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT) or the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) or a Signatory to the said organizations or TRAK-SAT Communications Limited with Land Earth Stations in that service (regulation 3(1)). Accordingly, it will not be necessary to hold a licence to establish and use the stations to which these Regulations apply.

These Regulations provide that, for the exemption to apply, the use of the Mobile Earth Stations shall not cause undue interference with any wireless telegraphy (regulation 3(2)).

Also, provision is made for the inspection of the Mobile Earth Stations by a person authorised by the Secretary of State, and the requirement for the use of such stations to cease, or be restricted, on the demand of that person (regulation 4). Failure to comply with such a demand is an offence under section 3 of the Act.

Copies of Volume 3 of the INMARSAT-C System Definition and Module 8, Part I of the INMARSAT Standard C System Definition Manual, which are referred to in these Regulations, may be obtained from INMARSAT 40 Melton Street Euston Square London NW1 2EQ. Copies of Version ETI—1.3 of OmniTRACS Mobile Communi cations Terminal Technical Definition and copies of sections 3 and 7 of the EUTELSAT Systems Operations Guide are obtainable from EUTELSAT Tour Maine-Montpar nasse—33 avenue du Maine 75755 Paris Cedex 15—France (United Kingdom contact address Signatory Affairs Office (UK), 218 Caroone House, 14 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4DX). Copies of the Canadian Astronautics Limited Specification CAL—SP—0490—10001 and the Government of Canada’s Department of Communications Document Number GL—22 may be obtained from TRAK–SAT Communications Limited, care of CAL Systems Limited, Portsmouth Enterprise Centre, Quatremaine Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO3 5QT.