Government Toughens Up Rules On Videosenders

Press Release - 5 August 1997

Videosenders are to be outlawed under a Parliamentary Order which will come into force on 1 September 1997. There is considerable interest in the use of videosenders, as an increasing number of households have more than one television. The devices, which can transmit pictures from a video recorder to a separate television elsewhere in the house, cause interference to other people's broadcast reception and can affect nearby frequencies used by the emergency services. Their use is already illegal, but under the new regulations, possession, sale, import and manufacture will also be prohibited. Members of the public are therefore strongly advised not to purchase a videosender and anyone currently in possession of such a device should now consider disposing of it.

The Radiocommunications Agency has identified radio spectrum that could be used for a legal service. If the industry is to develop suitable equipment for a legitimate market, it is essential that illegal equipment is not around to compete unfairly with the new products.

Notes to editors

1. An Order has-been laid before Parliament under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 which will prohibit the importation, manufacture, possession and sale (including hire and advertisement for sale, or hire) of devices known as videosenders. The importation of videosenders for re-export will be allowed under specific authority. The Order will come into force on 1 September 1997 if approved by Parliament.

2. The videosenders currently on sale operate in the 470-854 MHz frequency band, used for terrestrial television broadcasting. Consequently they are not and could not be, approved for use in the United Kingdom. The devices transmit the output of a video recorder or camera to a television receiver in domestic or commercial premises. The use of this type of videosender constitutes an offence under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, which carries a maximum penalty on indictment at Crown Court of two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine plus forfeiture of the equipment.

3. Breaches of the new Order will attract a maximum fine in a Magistrates' Court of £5000 plus forfeiture of the equipment. Alternatively an application can be made to the court for the equipment to be ordered forfeit in civil proceedings.

4. The Radiocommunications Agency, the DTI Executive Agency responsible for the radio spectrum has been in contact with the trade press to inform them of the scope of the Order so that they are able to consider withdrawing advertisements for videosenders from publications scheduled to appear after the Order comes into force.

5. A copy of the Compliance Cost Assessment relating to this Order is available to the public from the Radiocommunications Agency Library.