Part 4: Notices Notification of changes to telecommunications services etc New section 258A of the IPA 2016: Notification of proposed changes to telecommunications services etc
Section 258A(1) introduces a notification requirement. This is an obligation that the Secretary of State can place on an operator that requires them to notify the Secretary of State of relevant changes that the operator is intending to make.
	Subsection (2) and (3) defines the term "relevant change", which is a change to a service or system provided by the operator and that is specified in regulations.
	Subsection (4) makes provisions for regulations, which will set out thresholds for the notification requirement to ensure that it does not disproportionately or unnecessarily affect operators who do not hold or provide operationally relevant data.
	Subsection (5) and (6) sets out what the Secretary of State must consider before issuing a notice to an operator under this section.
	Subsection (7) requires the Secretary of State to consult the operator before giving them a notice under this section. The provision would require the Secretary of State to discuss, during the consultation with the operator, the specifics of the obligation to be imposed on the operator before the Secretary of State issues the notice. These individualised and confidential specifics will be included in the formal notice issued by the Secretary of State.
	Subsections (8) - (10) ensures that the new duty under 258A and the non-disclosure of the existence of a notice under this section is enforceable by civil proceedings.
	Subsection (11) and (12) defines the term "relevant operator". This is to ensure that the notification requirement can be placed on operators that provide lawful access of significant operational value and who currently provide assistance with warrants, authorisations or notices under the IPA 2016. This is to ensure the notification requirement does not disproportionality affect all operators.
	A consequential amendment to sections 65, 67 and 68 of RIPA 2000 is required to bring notices issued pursuant to section 258A under the Investigatory Power Tribunal’s jurisdiction (consistent with other similar notices issued under the IPA). This is a minor and technical amendment.