| 1 | Overview of broadcast content regulation This practice note provides an overview of the regulation of electronic media content in the UK. It looks separately at the regulation of content on television, radio and the internet because, despite increased convergence between these services, service provision is still usually made according to these traditional categories. The note looks at the EU legislative framework and the UK regulatory codes and legislation, and considers how the Audiovisual Media Services Directive affected the regulation of electronic media content in the UK. | Practice note: overview | Maintained |
| 2 | Overview of telecoms regulation This note provides an overview of the regulation of telecoms in the UK. It describes the EU and UK legislative framework applicable to the regulation of telecoms and discusses the main concepts in the Communications Act 2003: the authorisation regime, competition issues, access and interconnection, numbering and universal service obligations. It also provides some comment on privacy and content issues, and on issues relating to telecoms equipment. The note concludes with sections on the treatment of offences and disputes. The emphasis of the note is on the regulations as they apply to all telecoms services, but it also contains some focused discussion of their application to fixed-line telecoms. Detailed discussion of the application of the regulations to other specific services are dealt with in the following practice notes: Practice note, Mobile phone services, Practice note, Voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP), Practice note, Radio spectrum regime. | Practice note: overview | Maintained |
| 3 | RIPA: an overview of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers ... This practice note provides an overview of the five key parts of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000: The interception of communications. The acquisition of communications data. Surveillance. Covert human intelligence. Accessing protected data. | Practice note: overview | Maintained |
| 4 | Audiovisual Media Services Directive This Practice note discusses the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, which was created by amending the Television Without Frontiers Directive (89/552/EEC amended by 97/36/EC and 2007/65/EC) to reflect changes in the audiovisual media services field. It came into force on 19 December 2007 and member states were required to implement it by 19 December 2009. The codified version of the Directive (2010/13/EU), which repealed the TVWF Directive and its amendments, came into force on 5 May 2010. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 5 | Challenging decisions by electronic communications ... This note provides a practical overview to challenging decisions made by Ofcom and PhonepayPlus in the telecommunications sector. It provides a guide to the appeal routes available, relevant time limits and practical points to consider. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 6 | Communications Bill A note tracking the progress of the UK Communications Bill, and setting out the main topics that are being discussed during the progress of the Bill. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 7 | Communications outsourcing This note looks at the issues relating to communications outsourcing transactions, including structuring; different types of services; pricing; service levels and service credits; acceptable use; tax and regulatory issues; and other relevant considerations. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 8 | Communications: a quick guide A quick guide to the regulation of the communications infrastructure that underpins the delivery of services such as telephone calls, broadband internet and television. This is one of a series of quick guides: see Quick guides. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 9 | Consumer protection in telecoms This note looks at the special consumer-protection measures that exist for telecoms services and sets out the main EU and UK sources of these measures. For the application of consumer-protection law more generally, see Practice note, Consumer contracts. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 10 | Data protection aspects of the retention of communications ... A note considering the data protection aspects of the mandatory retention of, and access to, communications data held by communications service providers in the UK. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 11 | EU regulatory framework for electronic communications ... This practice note provides a summary of the regulatory framework for electronic communications in the EU. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 12 | FCA telephone taping rules An outline of the key aspects of the FCA's telephone taping rules (including the taping of mobile phones) in a set of frequently asked questions. It covers the requirement to record obligation in COBS 11.8 and explains the meaning of reasonable steps, as well as outlining retention requirements. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 13 | Mobile payments: current and emerging regulatory and ... This note looks at the regulatory and contractual issues for the various participants in enabling consumers to make payments using their mobile phones. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 14 | Mobile phone services This practice note describes the regulation of mobile phone services in the UK. It summarises mobile regulation under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications services, termination charges, international roaming charges, content and consumer issues. The note also discusses radio spectrum regulation, particularly in the context of the realignment of certain frequency bands in connection with providing capacity for faster mobile data services. It also considers the regulation of GSM gateways, and looks at newer developments such as mobiles on aeroplanes, mobile satellite systems and using mobiles for banking and payment services. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 15 | Monitoring e-mail and internet use of employees This note deals with the statutory framework relevant to surveillance of employee e-mail and internet usage. Monitoring employee activity of this sort within the workplace engages the: Data Protection Act 1998 and accompanying guidance in the Information Commissioner's Employment Practices Data Protection Code. Human Rights Act 1998. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/2699). The note also gives practical advice on implementing employee monitoring systems and policies. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 16 | Net neutrality This note explains the principle of net neutrality and what regulation exists and is likely to be introduced to preserve the neutrality of the internet in the EU and the UK. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 17 | Premium-rate phone services This Practice note discusses the main regulatory regime for "phone-paid" or "premium-rate" phone services (PRS), which are regulated on a day-to-day basis by PhonepayPlus (formerly known as ICSTIS) under its Code of Practice. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 18 | Radio spectrum regime This note explains how regulation of the radio spectrum works in the UK and in the context of wider regional and world regulation, and considers how the approach to regulation has changed from one where the regulator took "command and control" to one in which market forces are allowed to dictate the most efficient use of frequency bands. The note also discusses spectrum awards and gives practical information about licensing and enforcement, and equipment clearance, registration and notification. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 19 | Recording telephone calls and face-to-face meetings This practice note explains when a business can record telephone calls with third parties, such as customers or employees, and also the implications of recording face-to-face meetings. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 20 | Reference interconnect offers A practice note containing links to reference interconnect offers by dominant telecoms operators in a number of jurisdictions. | Practice notes | 26-Mar-2013 |
| 21 | RIPA: Local authorities and the Regulation of Investigatory ... A practice note which examines the use by local authorities of certain investigative powers authorised under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). The note considers: The powers available to local authorities under the RIPA regime. The controversy surrounding their use by some local authorities. Other applicable legislation and policies that will also need to be considered. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 22 | Satellite: an introduction A practice note providing an introduction to satellite policy, law and regulation in the EU. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 23 | Telecommunications leases and the Electronic ... A note on the statutory rights given to telecoms operators under the Electronic Communications Code, including issues for a landowner when entering into an agreement with a telecoms operator. | Practice notes | Maintained |
| 24 | Voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) This note describes the regulation of voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services. VoIP uses "packet-switching" instead of the circuit-switched network used for traditional fixed-line services, and offers, among other things, geographic flexibility, network flexibility and cheap calls. However, the technology has raised some challenges, particularly in relation to voice quality, emergency service provision and security. This note focuses on the regulation of VoIP in the UK but also considers the role of regulation at the EU level. | Practice notes | Maintained |