Wireless Telegraphy Act Licence Fees

Press Notice - 4th July 2002

The Radiocommunications Agency announces that the Minister for e-Commerce and Competitiveness, Stephen Timms MP, has today laid before Parliament Regulations to continue the phased introduction of spectrum pricing under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998.

The Regulations will come into force on 26 July 2002. They continue the process of pricing licences according to the amount of spectrum used rather than the administrative cost of licence issue. This process is resulting in exclusive users of spectrum or users in congested areas paying more, but the many thousands of licensees who share spectrum pay less. Fees for major users who have exclusive use of spectrum are being incrementally increased over a number of years.

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 0500
Out of Hours: 020 7215 0160
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 0017
Textphone (for people with hearing impairments): 020 7215 6740
RA website: www.radio.gov.uk

Notes to editors

1. These fees do not concern licences which have been awarded by auction process. These licence holders have no further Wireless Telegraphy Act fees to pay.

2. The Radiocommunications Agency manages over two hundred thousand licences, ranging from individual licences (e.g. radio amateurs) to thousands of business radio systems and several hundred existing national or regional networks. The fee changes include further increases for national networks, and simpler and cheaper licensing regimes for many small businesses.

3. The Regulations which implement these fee changes can be found on the HMSO website at:

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20021700.htm

or via e-mail/writing to:

Radiocommunications Agency
Licensing Policy Unit
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX

Fax: 020 7211 0523

Email: spectrumpricing@ra.gsi.gov.uk

RA/PN/2002/08