Contents

Wireless Telegraphy Acts

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 current (2018) supervisor of the UK's electromagnetic spectrum is the communications regulator, Ofcom.

• The Electric Telegraphs Amendment Act 1902 (required wireless masts to be licensed)

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904 and 1906 (pre-independence acts repealed in 1926)
• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 [1] (the principal Act)
• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1956 [2] [3] (concerned with use of radios in vehicles)
• The Broadcasting Authority Act 1960 [4] (established RTÉ and makes amendments to the 1926 Act in relation to television and interference)
• The Broadcasting offences Act 1968 [5] (banned offshore pirate radio stations-none of which existed at the time)
• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1972 [6] (concerned mainly with TV receiver licensing)
• The Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act 1976 [7] (amendments concerning cable TV)
• The Broadcasting And Wireless Telegraphy Act 1988 [8] (concerned mainly with unlicensed broadcasting)
• The Broadcasting Act 1990 [9] (amendments concerning cable TV and unauthorised decodingorinterception of broadcast services)
• The Broadcasting Act 2009 [10]

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to provide for the regulation of Wireless Telegraphy.
Citation	4 Edw. 7. c. 24
Dates
Royal assent	15 August 1904
Other legislation
Amended by	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1906 Wireless Telegraphy (Explanation) Act 1925 Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Act 1926
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1906
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to continue the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904,
Citation	6 Edw. 7. c. 13
Dates
Royal assent	20 July 1906
Other legislation
Amends	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904
Repealed by	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1906 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy (Explanation) Act 1925
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to explain the meaning of the expressions "transmission" and "rent or royalty" where used in certain provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904.
Citation	15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 67
Dates
Royal assent	7 August 1925
Other legislation
Amends	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy (Explanation) Act 1925 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Act 1926
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to facilitate the use of wireless telegraphy by the blind.
Citation	16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 54
Dates
Royal assent	15 December 1926
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Act 1926 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the law relating to wireless telegraphy.
Citation	12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 54
Dates
Royal assent	30 July 1949
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1904 Wireless Telegraphy Act 1906 Wireless Telegraphy (Explanation) Act 1925 Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Act 1926
Repealed by	Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy (Validation of Charges) Act 1954
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to validate certain charges in respect of licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1904 to 1926, and for purposes connected with the matter aforesaid.
Citation	3 & 4 Eliz. 2. c. 2
Dates
Royal assent	22 December 1954
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy (Validation of Charges) Act 1954 (subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons) Act 1955
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend subsection (2) of section two of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949.
Citation	4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 7
Dates
Royal assent	27 July 1955

• The Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons) Act 1955

• The Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 (banned offshore pirate radio stations, subsequently repealed)

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to enable the Postmaster General to obtain information as to the sale and hire of television receiving sets; to enable him to prohibit the manufacture or importation of certain wireless telegraphy apparatus; to make provision for requiring applicants for vehicle excise licences to give information about such apparatus installed in vehicles; to make miscellaneous amendments in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949; and for connected purposes.
Citation	1967 c. 72
Dates
Royal assent	27 July 1967
Other legislation
Amends	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949
Status: Repealed

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 (subsequently repealed)

• The Telecommunications Act 1984 (made amendments to the 1949 act)

• The Broadcasting Act 1990 (made extensive amendments to the 1949 and 1967 acts)

• The Broadcasting Act 1996

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision about the grant of, and sums payable in respect of, licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 other than television licences, and about the promotion of the efficient use and management of the electro-magnetic spectrum for wireless telegraphy; and for connected purposes.
Citation	1998 c. 6
Dates
Royal assent	18 March 1998
Other legislation
Repealed by	Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 (introduced spectrum pricing)

• The Office of Communications Act 2002 (created Ofcom)

• The Communications Act 2003 (provided for new activities relating to spectrum pricing)

• The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006

• List of short titles

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