Section 61: Withdrawal of telephone number allocations, Communications Act 2003

Where OFCOM have allocated telephone numbers for the purposes of any numbering conditions, they may withdraw that allocation if, and only if, the case is one in which the withdrawal of an allocation is authorised by this section.

The withdrawal of an allocation is authorised (subject to section 62) if—

consent to the withdrawal is given by the person to whom the numbers are for the time being allocated;

the withdrawal is made for the purposes of a transfer of the allocation required by numbering conditions;

the withdrawal is made for the purposes of a numbering reorganisation applicable to a particular series of telephone numbers;

the withdrawal is made in circumstances specified in the numbering conditions and for the purpose of securing that what appears to OFCOM to be the best and most efficient use is made of the numbers and other data that are appropriate for use as telephone numbers;

the allocated numbers are numbers that have not been adopted during such period after their allocation as may be specified in the numbering conditions; or

the allocated numbers are comprised in a series of numbers which have not to a significant extent been adopted or used during such period as may be so specified.

The withdrawal of an allocation is also authorised where—

there have been serious or repeated contraventions, by the person to whom the allocation is for the time being allocated, of the numbering conditions; and

it appears to OFCOM that the taking of other steps in respect of the contraventions is likely to prove ineffective for securing future compliance.

The withdrawal of an allocation is also authorised where—

the person to whom the allocation is for the time being allocated is not a communications provider; and

it appears to OFCOM that contraventions by that person of numbering conditions makes the withdrawal of the allocation appropriate.

OFCOM's power to set conditions specifying circumstances for the purposes of subsection (2)(d), and their power to withdraw an allocation in the specified circumstances, are each exercisable only in a manner that does not discriminate unduly—

against particular communications providers;

against particular users of the allocated numbers; or

against a particular description of such providers or users;

and the purposes for which those powers may be exercised do not include the carrying out of a numbering reorganisation of the sort mentioned in subsection (2)(c).

Where OFCOM are proposing to withdraw an allocation in exercise of the power conferred by virtue of subsection (2)(e) or (f), they must—

give a notification of their proposal;

consider any representations made to them about the proposal within the period of 30 days following the day on which the notification is given; and

ensure that the withdrawal (if OFCOM decide to proceed with it after considering those representations) does not take effect until the end of the three months beginning with the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (b).

A notification for the purposes of subsection (6) must be given in such manner as OFCOM consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of—

the person to whom the numbers to which the proposed withdrawal relates are for the time being allocated;

every person appearing to OFCOM to be a person to whom communications are or may be transmitted using one of those numbers for identifying the destination or route;

every person who uses one or more of those numbers for obtaining access to services or for communication; and

every other person who, in OFCOM's opinion, is likely to be affected by the proposal.

For the purposes of this section there are repeated contraventions by a person of numbering conditions to the extent that—

in the case of a previous notification of a contravention given to that person under section 96A, OFCOM have given a confirmation decision to that person under section 96C(2) in respect of the contravention; and

in the period of 24 months following the giving of that confirmation decision, one or more further confirmation decisions have been given to the person in respect of contraventions of numbering conditions;

and for the purposes of this subsection it shall be immaterial whether the confirmation decisions related to the same contravention or to different contraventions of the same or different conditions.

In this section "numbering conditions" means—

general conditions the making of which is authorised by section 58; or

conditions set under section 59.

Section 61: Withdrawal of telephone number allocations

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