HC Deb 25 July 1990 vol 177 cc246-7W
Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes to make for licensing under the Telecommunications Act 1984 existing cable television relay systems which do not at present require to be licensed under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, should the proposals in the Broadcasting Bill receive parliamentary approval.

Mr. Lilley

[pursuant to the reply, 7 June 1990, col. 670–71]: Details of the licensing regime for SMATV systems under the Telecommunications Act 1984 and the provisions in the Broadcasting Bill should it receive Royal Assent were given in an answer by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office on 2 March 1990, col. 351–52, and in the earlier answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North.

SMATV systems in new housing developments in the process of being built on the date that the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Bill enter into force, the transfer date, will be regarded for licensing purposes as having carried all four terrestrial channels and all five United Kingdom DBS channels immediately before the transfer date provided that:

  1. (a) the contract with the prospective licensee to build such a system was signed and any necessary planning permission granted on or before today's date; and
  2. (b) at least 50 per cent. of the homes on the system were capable of receiving all four terrestrial channels and all five United Kingdom DBS channels immediately before the transfer date.

Those running such systems will thus qualify for an individual Telecommunications Act licence authorising the system to carry, after the transfer date, any television or radio services other than those proscribed under provisions contained in clause 165 of the Broadcasting Bill. Systems covering 1,000 homes or more will also qualify for a five-year diffusion service licence (if the system lies within a cable franchise area) or a five-year local delivery service licence (if it lies outside). Applications for these licences will have to be made in advance of the transfer date.

Any other system partially built at the transfer date will be regarded for licensing purpose as having been built after the transfer date.