New electronic communications code

The electronic communications code dates back to 1984. It regulates agreements between landowners and communications operators for the installation of equipment and infrastructure to provide facilities such as broadband, cable TV, mobile telephony and land lines. It covers leases of sites but also other contracts such as licences and wayleave agreements. The Digital Economy Bill currently before parliament will replace the 1984 code with a new one. The general tenor of the new code is to advantage operators at the expense of landowners.