Regulator Profile
Ofcom
Office of Communications
Enforcement Regulator4
Areas of regulation
17
Laws enforced
UK-wide
Quick links
Broadcasting
Online Safety
Spectrum
Telecoms
What Ofcom does
Regulates telecoms, TV, radio, video-on-demand, postal services, and online safety. Issues licences for telecoms providers, manages spectrum. Now enforces Online Safety Act duties for user-to-user and search services.
Additional information
Online Safety Act enforcement from 2024. Service categorisation (Category 1, 2A, 2B).
Legal framework
Legislation that Ofcom enforces.
Primary legislation
- Broadcasting Act 1990 Act 1990
- Broadcasting Act 1996 Act 1996
- Communications Act 2003 Act 2003
- Communications Act 2003 - Legislation.gov.uk Act 2003
- Online Safety Act 2023 Act 2023
- Online Safety Act 2023 Schedule 7 (Priority offences) Act 2023
- Online Safety Act 2023, section 110 Act 2023
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 Act 2006
Secondary legislation
- Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- The Building (Electronic Communications) Order 2008 UK Statutory Instrument 2008
- The Planning (Electronic Communications) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2006
- The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (England) Order 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (Scotland) Order 2004 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2004
- The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (Wales) (No. 1) Order 2004 Welsh Statutory Instrument 2004
- The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (Wales) (No. 2) Order 2004 Welsh Statutory Instrument 2004
- The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (Wales) (No. 3) Order 2004 UK Statutory Instrument 2004
Sectors regulated
Books, printed media and stationery