Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Stakeholders also suggested that there were areas where the Department’s approach to removing barriers to...
Conclusion
Stakeholders also suggested that there were areas where the Department’s approach to removing barriers to rolling out gigabit-capable infrastructure could be strengthened further.53 This was particularly the case regarding “wayleaves,” which are contractual agreements between landowners and telecommunications providers about the right to access property in order to install and maintain electronic communications apparatus.54 We received written evidence from The Independent Networks Co-operative Association, which told us that issues with wayleaves topped the list of challenges cited by independent operators working to deliver the UK’s overall policy objectives. Negotiations over wayleaves can sometimes takes over two years.55 Openreach also told us that issues related to wayleaves are a particular concern for blocks of flats with multiple occupants, which Openreach estimated may affect up to 1.5 million households.56
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.