Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
The Department’s answers during our more recent evidence session suggested that it is still not...
Conclusion
The Department’s answers during our more recent evidence session suggested that it is still not making progress at pace in tackling barriers to gigabit roll out. For example, the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 (TILPA) received Royal Assent on 15 March 2021. This legislation was designed to amend the Electronic Communications Code, providing a process that telecommunications operators could use to gain access rights to multi-dwelling premises for a defined period. However, the substance of the Act will only come into force through secondary legislation. The Department initially expected this to occur in Autumn 2021.45 In our session, however, the Department told us that it was “hoping to do [this] soon” and that it was looking to lay the regulations needed by Spring 2022.46 The Department subsequently wrote to us saying that it would expect to implement regulations for the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act by the second quarter of 2022.47
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to encourage stronger relationships between telecoms operators and site providers. The bill will tackle the issue of non-responsive landowners, providing operators with the automatic right to upgrade or share apparatus installed before 2017. The department will publish the consultation response on implementing regulations for the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 soon, then regulations will be laid when Parliamentary time allows; • worked with the Department for Transport (DfT) and industry to implement and trial further reforms to streetworks and permitting, proposed in the follow-up consultation, published by DfT in February. • published a statutory technical consultation on ‘new build’ home gigabit-capable connectivity. The response will be published soon, and legislation will follow when Parliamentary time allows; • introduced changes to permitted development rights to support wider mobile coverage and 5G deployment; and • through the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator, taken steps to make it easier and quicker to deploy mobile equipment on local authority buildings and street furniture.