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Complaints about licensing

If you have a complaint on how Ofcom is conducting itself, please let us know, so that we can deal with your complaint as quickly as possible.

What to do if you have a complaint

If you have a complaint about Ofcom you will need to contact the relevant section in Ofcom that your complaint stems from. They will initially be in the best position to understand your complaint. If you speak to the relevant section on the phone, we advise that you follow this up in writing.

Complaints about another spectrum user

If you believe that someone may be acting outside the terms of a licence or you are receiving interference to your licensed network, Ofcom has a range of powers and arrangements for investigating and for enforcing compliance. Details are available on the Ofcom website.

Many interference complaints arise from unauthorised use. The table below helps summarise the actions that Ofcom may take for identifying unauthorised radio users or non-compliant equipment:

Offence	Action
Illegal operation	Ofcom’s licences are designed to minimise interference between legitimate services. Ofcom will be happy to advise users to conform with their licensing requirements however any use which is not authorised is much more likely to cause interference and difficulties for others. In the case of serious or persistent breach of licensing terms Ofcom will take enforcement action to prevent interference. Those who operate illegally and continue to do so after warnings will be liable to prosecution under the WT Act. This may lead to summary convictions, prison sentences and/or fines. Equipment may also be forfeited.
Sale of non-compliant equipment	It is illegal to place radio equipment on the market (i.e. sell) which does not comply with the Radio Equipment & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R& TTE ) Directive (see section 20). Non-compliant equipment could cause serious interference to authorised users. Ofcom monitors sales outlets and can issue notices prohibiting supply and can seize equipment as evidence for court proceedings and subsequent forfeiture. Sale of non-compliant equipment may lead to summary convictions, prison sentence and/or a fine.

Help available from Ofcom

Ofcom has a network of National and Regional Offices throughout the UK . The local staff, are the points of contact for many stakeholders, and carry out work in the following areas:

• Ensure that the use of radio and radio frequencies throughout the spectrum conforms to licence requirements.
• Investigate and take action to prevent undue interference
• Ensure that non-compliant radio is kept off the market
• Provide advice on radio communications and interference.
• Assign frequencies and issue licences for Business Radio (On-Site Speech and Data, Business Radio (On-Site One-Way Paging and Speech Systems), Business Radio (Wide area one way paging and speech systems), Business Radio (Wide area speech and data systems, Maritime Coastal station radio (International / UK / Marina )
• Carry out inspections of radio installations
• Offer a chargeable service in certain cases

Problems outside of Ofcom’s regulatory responsibility

Often interference problems lie outside Ofcom’s statutory responsibilities and should be dealt with by private sector service engineers, dealers or aerial contractors. These instances are usually when a radio or television has poor immunity to unwanted signals, or inadequate aerial arrangements, as opposed to interference from illegal use of radio or faulty electrical apparatus.

Ofcom can sometimes provide help and advice to business users of radio on matters outside its regulatory responsibility on a consultancy basis. For more information see: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/enforcement/br/

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