- Enforced by
- Ofcom
- Status
- Amended (in force with amendments)
- Penalty ceiling
- Imprisonment 12 of 52 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 21 carry different penalties and 19 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 14 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Occupier — also bound by 235 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts
What it requires
Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
General provision about radio spectrum
3 of 7 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must publish and maintain the UK Plan for Frequency AuthorisationStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must consider spectrum availability and demand when managing radio wavesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must ensure radio capacity for licensed TV multiplex servicesStatutory regulator
4 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Regulation of radio spectrum
21 of 59 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must review long-term non-transferable wireless licencesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must consult before granting an exclusive wireless licenceStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must ensure license terms are fair, transparent, and proportionateStatutory regulator
- Fail to surrender expired or revoked wireless licenceAny Person
Fine up to £1,000
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must protect rights of spectrum access holders when issuing licencesStatutory regulator
- Pay required charges for recognised spectrum accessAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must set clear criteria when limiting radio frequency licencesStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom may create rules for transferring radio spectrum rightsStatutory regulator
- Provide statistical information to Ofcom upon requestAny Person
- Provide information to Ofcom regarding radio spectrum useAny Person
- Comply with Ofcom confirmation decisions and information penaltiesAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must publish and follow its wireless telegraphy information policyStatutory regulator
- Use or install unauthorised wireless telegraphy equipmentAny Person
- Make wireless equipment available for unauthorised useAny Person
- Permit unlawful broadcasting from your premisesOccupier
- Facilitate unauthorised broadcastingAny Person
- Breach wireless telegraphy regulationsAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Send false safety‑critical wireless messagesAny Person
- Intercept or disclose wireless messages without authorityAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Give false information on vehicle licence for wireless equipmentAny Person
Fine up to £1,000
- Fail to surrender wireless telegraphy authority when requiredAny Person
Fine up to £1,000
38 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Regulation of dynamic spectrum access services
4 of 13 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must maintain a register of dynamic spectrum access providersStatutory regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must issue a confirmation decision following a contravention noticeStatutory regulator
- Ofcom may require you to provide gross revenue informationAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must issue a final decision and reasons regarding contraventionsStatutory regulator
9 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Regulation of apparatus
4 of 15 sections shown- Use equipment in breach of an OFCOM noticeAny Person
- Obstruct or fail to assist a wireless inspectorAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Use or possess unauthorised wireless equipmentAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Deliberately interfere with wireless telegraphyAny Person
11 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Approval of apparatus etc
2 of 8 sections shown- Supply or advertise prohibited wireless apparatusAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Be liable for another’s wireless telegraphy offenceAny Person
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Prohibition of broadcasting from sea or air
11 of 19 sections shown- Unauthorised broadcast from ship or aircraftAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Broadcast from unauthorised marine structureAny Person
- Make unauthorised broadcast from non‑British ship in prescribed high seasAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Operate illegal broadcast equipment from high seasAny Person
- Participate in management of unlawful broadcasting stationAny Person
- Facilitate unauthorised broadcasting from ships or aircraftAny Person
- Repair or maintain broadcasting equipment unlawfullyAny Person
- Supply, create or advertise material for an unlawful broadcastAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Procure overseas breach of UK wireless telegraphy rulesAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Assault, obstruct or refuse an enforcement officerAny Person
- Violate wireless telegraphy lawsAny Person
8 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
General
12 of 31 sections shown- Obstruct or refuse to assist wireless telegraphy inspectorsAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Intentionally obstruct an officer exercising seizure powersAny Person
Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ofcom must return or dispose of seized property within set timeframesStatutory regulator
- Continue using unlicensed wireless equipment after convictionAny Person
- Personal liability for directors and officers for wireless telegraphy offencesDirector or Officer
- Disclose wireless telegraphy information without consentAny Person
2 years imprisonment · amended 11 times (opens in a new tab)
19 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules
1 of 133 shown- Claim ownership of seized wireless equipment to prevent forfeitureAny Person
132 other schedules
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
8 more guides that reference this instrument
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.