Section 151: Interpretation of Chapter 1, Communications Act 2003

In this Chapter—

In this Chapter references to interconnection are references to the linking (whether directly or indirectly by physical or logical means, or by a combination of physical and logical means) of one public electronic communications network to another for the purpose of enabling the persons using one of them to be able—

to communicate with users of the other one; or

to make use of services provided by means of the other one (whether by the provider of that network or by another person).

In this Chapter references to network access are references to—

interconnection of public electronic communications networks; or

any services, facilities or arrangements which—

are not comprised in interconnection; but

are services, facilities or arrangements by means of which a person is able, for the purposes of the provision of an electronic communications service (whether by him or by another), to make use of anything mentioned in subsection (4);

and references to providing network access include references to providing any such services, making available any such facilities or entering into any such arrangements.

The things referred to in subsection (3)(b) are—

any electronic communications network or electronic communications service provided by another communications provider;

any apparatus comprised in such a network or used for the purposes of such a network or service;

any electronic communications apparatus;

any facilities made available by another that are associated facilities by reference to any network or service (whether one provided by that provider or by another);

any other services or facilities which are provided or made available by another person and are capable of being used for the provision of an electronic communications service.

In subsections (3)(b)(ii) and (4)(d), the references to an electronic communications service include the conveyance by means of an electronic communications network of signals, including an information society service or content service so conveyed.

In subsection (4A)—

"content service" has the meaning given by section 32(7), and
"information society service" has the meaning given by section 51(9).

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For the purposes of this Chapter, where there is a contravention of an obligation that requires a person to do anything within a particular period or before a particular time, that contravention shall be taken to continue after the end of that period, or after that time, until that thing is done.

References in this Chapter to remedying the consequences of a contravention include references to paying an amount to a person—

by way of compensation for loss or damage suffered by that person; or

in respect of annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety to which he has been put.

In determining for the purposes of provisions of this Chapter whether a contravention is a repeated contravention for any purposes, a notification of a contravention under that provision shall be disregarded if it has been withdrawn before the imposition of a penalty in respect of the matters notified.

For the purposes of this section a service is made available to members of the public if members of the public are customers, in respect of that service, of the provider of that service.

Section 151: Interpretation of Chapter 1

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