The Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988

Made: 18th January 1988

Laid before Parliament: 27th January 1988

Coming into force: 17th February 1988

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949[^f00001] as enacted, and as extended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Channel Islands) Order 1952[^f00002] and the Wireless Telegraphy (Isle of Man) Order 1952[^f00003] and now vested in him[^f00004], and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988 and shall come into force on 17th February 1988.

2

In these Regulations —

• “the Act” means the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949;

• “authorised broadcasting station” means a station for the time being duly authorised to conduct a broadcasting service pursuant to the Radio Regulations published by the General Secretariat of the International Telecommunication Union and for the time being in force;

• “public telecommunication system” has the meaning given by section 9(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1984[^f00005].

3

Save as excepted by regulation 4, a person shall not use any station for wireless telegraphy or any wireless telegraphy apparatus to send a message, communication or other matter in whatever form that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

4

Regulation 3 shall not apply in relation to the use by any person of an authorised broadcasting station or a public telecommunication system.

Signed

John Butcher — Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, — Department of Trade and Industry — 18th January 1988

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prohibit the use of a station for wireless telegraphy and wireless telegraphy apparatus as set out in regulation 3 for the purpose of sending a message, communication or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. A person who sends such a message, communication or other matter is guilty of an offence under the Act and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1949 c. 54.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1952/1900.

[^f00003]: S.I. 1952/1899.

[^f00004]: 1969 c. 48; S.I. 1969/1369, 1371, 1974/691.

[^f00005]: 1984 c. 12.