On 31 May 2007, Ofcom published a statutory notice (“the statutory notice”) concerning changes to the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2005 (“the existing Regulations”). The notice set out a number of proposed changes to various licence classes listed below in the form of Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (“ the Amendment Regulations”):
- Community Radio licences – simplification of licence charges to implement a single licence of £250;
- Community Television Relay – introduction of new licence class for self help TV at flat five year licence fee of £75, this was originally covered in a separate policy consultation which closed on 1 March 2007;
- Broadcasting Services – introduction of existing licence class and fee for National and Regional Analogue Television Transmission into licence charges regulations;
- National Public Safety licence classes at 380-385 MHz and 390 MHz to 395 MHz – publication of existing fees and licence classes in licence charges regulations;
- Self Co-ordinated links – additional frequencies to be made available at 71 - 76GHz and 81 - 86GHz at existing rates of £50 per link;
- Point to Point Fixed Links – modification of fee calculation in order to enable Ofcom to offer credits for the early surrender of fixed links;
- Fixed Wireless Access – additional frequency (10 GHz) added at existing rate of £5,000 per licence per 60 month period;
- Maritime – temporary licence classes included for Coastal Station Radio at existing rates, minor typographical errors corrected;
- Programme Making and Special Events (“PMSE”) – 20% overall increase weighted towards exclusive users of spectrum);
- Public Wireless Networks – introduction of new licence class for the Channel Islands and Isle of Man with fee based on comparative population pro-rata as the national rates set for United Kingdom mainland for second generation cellular services;
- Satellite (Transportable Earth Station) - extension of existing frequency bands available to the class;
- Science and Technology - introduction of two new miscellaneous licence classes; a short term licence at a rate of £20 per licence for up to 1 year or a long term licence at a rate of £50 per licence for up to five years; and
- Ground Probing Radar - introduction of a new fee and licence class.
Following the statutory consultation period, this statement explains Ofcom’s decisions in relation to the proposals. Ofcom received no formal responses to the consultation, although it did receive a number of informal enquiries in relation to the proposed changes.
Therefore, this statement announces the making of the regulations unchanged in their effect and purpose. The new Regulations, the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 will implement changes to the existing Regulations. These Regulations will shortly be published and will come into force on 27 August 2007. After that date, fees prescribed in the Amendment Regulations will apply to all new applications and renewals.