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Executive Summary

1.1 This statement outlines our intention to amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2003. Specifically we have decided to make the following equipment licence exempt:

• A number of Short Range Devices (SRDs) as set out in the draft European Commission (EC) Decision 2006/771/EC.
• Building Material Analysis (BMA) devices using Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technologies; and
• High Density applications in the Fixed Satellite Service (HDFSS) in the 27.5 - 27.8185 GHz, 28.4545 - 28.8265 GHz and 29.4625 - 30 GHz bands .

1.2 We have also decided to amend the current licence exemption for the following equipment

• Land Mobile Satellite Services (LMSS); and
• Social Alarms, Hearing Aids, Meter Reading, Asset Tracking devices in the 169.4 – 169.8125 MHz band;

1.3 On 18 September 2007 we published a consultation[^(-1-)] outlining a number of proposals to amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2003. The consultation closed on 28 November 2007. We received 33 non-confidential responses. The list of respondents is detailed in Annex 2 and their responses are published on our website[^(-2-)]. In addition, we also received 2 confidential responses to our proposals.

1.4 The majority of respondents either supported, or had no objections to, our plans. We have given consideration to all of the points which were raised and these are addressed in Section 2 of this document. Having considered those responses we have decided to exempt a number of pieces of equipment from the need for a Wireless Telegraphy Act licence as described in this document.

1.5 We intend to draft amending regulations to introduce these changes. These regulations will be subject to further statutory period of consultation and we expect to publish these after the EC has finalised its draft decision on Short Range Devices (SRDs). This is expected to take place in Spring 2008. We have also received a Detailed Opinion from the EC on the Interface Requirement that relates to SRDs as a result we are not able to make regulations to make changes to the licence exemption of SRDs before 11 April 2008.

1.6 A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is available in Annex 1 of this document. The RIA sets out the risks, costs and benefits of our decision and the effects that these will have on the costs to business, Ofcom and consumers.

Footnotes:

1.- Available at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/wtle/wtle.pdf.

2.- Available at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/wtle/responses/.

The full document is available below

• Amending the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2003 [pdf]
  Full Print Version

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