Section 80A: Consultation for market identifications and market power determinations, Communications Act 2003

This section applies where—

OFCOM propose—

to identify a market for the purposes of making a market power determination; or

to make a market power determination; and

(in the case of a services market) the proposed identification or determination is in OFCOM's opinion likely to result in the setting, modification or revocation of SMP services conditions that will have a significant impact on the market.

But this section does not apply where ... in OFCOM's opinion—

there are exceptional circumstances; and

there is an urgent need to act in order to safeguard competition and to protect the interests of consumers.

OFCOM must publish a notification of what they are proposing to do.

Notifications for the purposes of subsection (3)—

may be given separately;

may be contained in a single notification relating to both the identification of a market and the making of a market power determination in relation to that market; or

may be contained in a single notification under section 48A(3) with respect to the setting or modification of an SMP condition and either—

the making of the market power determination by reference to which OFCOM are proposing to set or modify that condition; or

the making of that market power determination and the identification of the market in relation to which they are proposing to make that determination.

A notification under this section relating to a proposal to identify a market or to make a market power determination must—

state that OFCOM are proposing to identify that market or to make that market power determination;

set out the effect of the proposal;

give their reasons for making the proposal; and

specify the period within which representations may be made to OFCOM about their proposal.

That period must be a period of not less than 30 days after the day of the publication of the notification.

But where OFCOM are satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the use of a shorter period, the period specified as the period for making representations may be whatever shorter period OFCOM considers reasonable in those circumstances.

The publication of a notification under this section must be in such manner as appears to OFCOM to be appropriate for bringing the contents of the notification to the attention of the persons who, in OFCOM's opinion, are likely to be affected by the matters notified.

OFCOM must—

consider every representation about the proposal made to them during the period specified in the notification; and

have regard to every international obligation of the United Kingdom (if any) which has been notified to them for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State.

... OFCOM may then give effect to the proposal, with any modifications that appear to OFCOM to be appropriate.

Section 80A: Consultation for market identifications and market power determinations

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