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Section 66: Designation of universal service providers

Communications Act 2003 · 2003 c. 21View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 2: Networks, services and the radio spectrum — Chapter 1: Electronic communications networks and services

OFCOM may by regulations make provision for the designation of the persons to whom universal service conditions are to be applicable.

Subject to subsection (3), those regulations are not to authorise the designation of a person other than a communications provider.

The regulations may provide for a person other than a communications provider to be designated for the purposes only of conditions relating to—

the supply of directories capable of being used in connection with the use of an electronic communications network or electronic communications service; and
the making available of directory enquiry facilities capable of being used for purposes connected with the use of such a network or service.

OFCOM may from time to time—

review the designations for the time being in force in accordance with regulations under this section; and
on such a review, consider what (if any) universal service conditions should continue to apply to each of the designated persons.

The procedure to be followed in the case of every such review must be the procedure provided for in regulations made by OFCOM.

Regulations made by OFCOM under this section must provide for a person's designation as a person to whom universal service conditions are to be applicable to cease to have effect where, in any such case as may be described in the regulations, the universal service conditions applied to him are all revoked.

Regulations made by OFCOM under this section providing a procedure for the designation of persons, or for the conduct of a review under subsection (4), must not provide for any procedure other than one appearing to OFCOM—

to be efficient, objective and transparent; and
not to involve, or to tend to give rise to, any undue discrimination against any person or description of persons.

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In making any regulations under this section, OFCOM must have regard to any guidance that is contained in the universal service order.

Section 403 applies to the power of OFCOM to make regulations under this section.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.