Regulator Profile
Ofcom
Office of Communications
Enforcement Regulator4
Areas of regulation
16
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
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 Act 2006
- Postal Services Act 2011 Act 2011
- DEA 2017 Act 2017
- Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 Act 2021
- PSTIA 2022 Act 2022
- Online Safety Act 2023 Act 2023
- Media Act 2024 Act 2024
Secondary legislation
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 UK Statutory Instrument 2018
- Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2020 UK Statutory Instrument 2020
- Audiovisual Media Services (Amendment) Regulations 2021 UK Statutory Instrument 2021
- Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022 UK Statutory Instrument 2022
- Network and Information Systems (Amendment) Regulations 2022 UK Statutory Instrument 2022
Sectors regulated
Books, printed media and stationery