In the United Kingdom, there are various regulations which govern the telecommunications sector. One of the most important legislations is the Telecommunications Act, 1984 which was enacted to provide for the appointment and functions of a Director General of Telecommunications; to abolish British Telecommunications’ exclusive privilege with respect to telecommunications and to make new provision with respect to the provision of telecommunication services and certain related services; to make provision, in substitution for the Telegraph Acts 1863 to 1916 and Part IV of the Post Office Act 1969, for the matters there dealt with and related matters; to provide for the vesting of property, rights and liabilities of British Telecommunications in a company nominated by the Secretary of State and the subsequent dissolution of British Telecommunications; to make provision with respect to the finances of that company; to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967, to make further provision for facilitating enforcement of those Acts and otherwise to make provision with respect to wireless telegraphy apparatus and certain related apparatus; to give statutory authority for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in providing a radio interference service; to increase the maximum number of members of British Telecommunications pending its dissolution; and for connected purposes.
The Telecommunications Act, 1984 has set the framework for competition and opened up a market where new national Public Telecommunications Operators were given licences. The development of a pro-competitive regulatory framework was furthered by the implementation of four new EU Directives in 2003 addressing framework, authorisation, access and Interconnection, and universal services. These Directives emphasised upon light touch regulation, technology neutrality and greater consistency across Europe. In order to implement the provisions of these Directives, the Communications Act of 2003 was legislated. In the UK, the Office of Communication, a government department is the supervisor of the telecommunications industry. The Office of Communication also executes the additional duties laid down in the provisions of Communications Act 2003.
