Part 1: Access to Digital Services Section 3: Automatic compensation for failure to meet performance standards
Section 51 of the 2003 Act provides Ofcom with powers to set general conditions that apply to communication providers. In particular, section 51(1)(a) enables Ofcom to set conditions for protecting the interests of end-users of public electronic communications services and subsection (2) provides examples of the purposes for which conditions protecting the interests of end-users may be made. This section amends section 51 of the 2003 Act by inserting new subsection 2(da) making explicit the scope of Ofcom’s power to set a condition requiring the payment of compensation by communications providers to end-users – communications providers may be required to pay compensation to an end-user where they fail to meet a specified standard or obligation.