Notice of Ofcom’s proposals to make regulations: The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) Regulations 2005

Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom has the general duty to promote the optimal use of the spectrum.

The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 (‘WT Act’) facilitated the use of market mechanisms in spectrum management for the first time in the UK. For non-auctioned spectrum, the WT Act enabled ‘Administered Incentive Pricing’ (AIP), whereby prices for annual licence fees are set above administrative cost to reflect a range of spectrum management objectives. These WT Act licence fees, set through AIP must be prescribed in regulations in the form of a statutory instrument.