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Explanatory note

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1774 as amended by S.I.s 1999/3243, 2000/1678 and 2001/2265; “the 1999 Regulations”). These Regulations provide for fees to be paid in relation to wireless telegraphy licences granted under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (c. 54). The fees are set by the Secretary of State in accordance with the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 (c. 6).

These Regulations:

(a)

extend the existing scope of regulation 4(3) and also the third column (“variable sums”) in Schedule 2 relating to the Fixed Links and Programme Making and Special Events sectors to provide for the charging of fees in respect of part complete calendar months;

(b)

limit the issue or renewal of licences for periods of less than a year under regulation 4(3) to licences with fees in excess of £75 per annum;

(c)

rename the Maritime Radio (Navigational Air and Radar) and the Ship Fixed Radio licence classes in the Maritime sector as the Maritime Navigational Aids and Radar and the Ship Radio licence classes;

(d)

introduce the Commercial (5-Year) Ship Radio Licence in the Maritime sector and also the Private Business Radio IR 2008 Data and the Private Business Radio UK General licence classes in the Private Business Radio sector;

(e)

rename request channels as multi use type (1) channels and introduce multi use type (2) channels in the Programme Making and Special Events sector;

(f)

rename the Public Telecommunication Networks sector as the Public Wireless Networks sector; and

(g)

replace the Very Small Aperture Terminal Licence with the Network Licence in the Satellite Services sector.

The Regulations also add the Commercial (5-Year) Ship Radio and the Private Business Radio UK General licence classes to the list of licences for which qualifying charities can claim a fee discount. In providing for concessionary fees for these charities the Regulations refer to the Association of Guernsey Charities and the Association of Jersey Charities (regulation 5(3)). The addresses of these Associations are c/o Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, States Arcade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, and c/o Dover House, Domaine des Vaux, St. Lawrence, Jersey respectively.

Copies of the documents “Office of National Statistics Population Estimates Mid-2000 for England and Wales”, “Mid-Year Population Estimates, Scotland” and “Annual Report of the Registrar General for Northern Ireland” referred to in regulation 3(5) may be obtained from The Stationery Office, Publications Centre, P.O. Box 276, London SW8 5DT.

Copies of the Radio Regulations may be obtained from the ITU Sales Service, Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.

A full regulatory impact assessment report of the effect that these Regulations would have on the costs to business and the list referred to in regulation 3(3) are freely available to the public from the Radiocommunications Agency Library at Wyndham House, 189 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SX (Tel: 020 7211 0211) or on the Agency’s Internet web site at www.radio.gov.uk. Copies of the report have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.