The Wireless Telegraphy Acts are laws regulating radio communications in the United Kingdom.
Wireless telegraphy as a concept is defined in British law as "the sending of electro-magnetic energy over paths not provided by a material substance."
The term telegraphy, although best known in relation to the electric telegraph, relates to the sending of messages over long-distances. Wireless telegraphy is differentiated from electrical telegraphy in that the messages are transmitted via electromagnetic means (light or radio) rather than via a physical electrical cable connection.
The guardian of the UK's electromagnetic spectrum is the communications regulator, Ofcom.
Brief history of the UK Wireless Telegraphy Acts
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904 (subsequently repealed)
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1906 (subsequently repealed)
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 c. 54 (subsequently repealed)
- Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 c.41 (banned offshore pirate radio stations, subsequently repealed)
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 c. 72
- Telecommunications Act 1984 (made amendments to the 1949 Act)
- Broadcasting Act 1990 (made extensive amendments to the 1949 Act)
- Broadcasting Act 1996
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 c. 6 (introduced spectrum pricing)
- Office of Communications Act 2002 (created Ofcom)
- Communications Act 2003 (provided for new activities relating to spectrum pricing)
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 c. 36 (in force from 2007-02-08; consolidated wireless telegraphy legislation; repealed the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949)
Wireless Telegraphy Acts in other Countries
Ireland
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904 and 1906 (pre-independence acts repealed in 1926)
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 The principal act
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1956 concerned with use of radio in vehicles
- Broadcasting Authority Act 1960 Establishes RTÉ and makes amendments to the 1926 act in relation to Television and interference
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 1972 Concerned mainly with TV (receiver) licencing
- Broadcasting Authority (amendment) Act 1976 Amendments concerning cable TV
- Broadcasting And Wireless Telegraphy Act 1988 Concerned mainly with unlicenced broadcasting
- Broadcasting Act 1990 Amendments concerning cable TV and unauthorised decoding or interception of broadcast services
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