This 2026 Statutory Instrument, made under the Broadcasting Act 1990, amends the rules governing independent radio broadcasting by explicitly exempting certain radio services from the general requirement to hold a license.

Specifically, the Order exempts 'restricted services' if they broadcast on frequencies outside the standard AM or FM bands, or if they broadcast on FM frequencies using apparatus emitting extremely low power, not exceeding 50 nanowatts.

Furthermore, the instrument revokes the predecessor exception orders from 1990 and 2007, consolidating the current exceptions framework.

These 2026 Regulations, made under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, amend two pieces of 2013 legislation concerning the trafficking of people for exploitation by removing specific requirements for statutory reviews of those regulations, thereby streamlining the legal framework without replacement.

These Regulations officially set the specific monetary amounts for fees payable by providers of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, as mandated by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

The instrument details the fixed fees for applying for, varying, and periodically maintaining accreditation, specifying the amounts for initial applications (£6,151), application variation (£950), and recurring six-monthly fees (£1,318), all of which are payable to the designated ADR authority starting from April 6th, 2026.

These Regulations officially bring into force Chapter 4 (Alternative Dispute Resolution for consumer contract disputes) and related Schedules (25 to 27) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 starting on 6th April 2026, marking the third phase of implementation for the Act, and simultaneously establish specific transitional provisions to manage ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) cases initiated before or shortly after the commencement date, granting existing providers a temporary exemption from new prohibitions on acting as an ADR provider or charging fees until they achieve accreditation or until October 5th, 2026.

These Regulations officially bring into force section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 on March 13, 2026, which amends the procedures for installing electric vehicle charge points on public highways by granting Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators the legal right to use a permit-based system instead of the existing Section 50 licensing structure under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

These Regulations, known as the Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026, are made by the Secretary of State under the authority of the Online Safety Act 2023 to bring specific provisions of that Act into force on April 7, 2026, primarily focusing on establishing the mandatory duty for providers of regulated user-to-user services to report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) content to the National Crime Agency, alongside related offenses, supplementary reporting requirements, and powers for the regulator to obtain information.

This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Enterprise Act 2002, prevents the parties involved in the proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) from taking 'pre-emptive action' while a public interest intervention notice remains in force; the Order mandates that the Telegraph Media Group Holdings business must be carried on separately, maintaining its operational status, editorial independence, key staff, and market position until the review period concludes.

OFCOM created these Regulations, which came into force on February 25, 2026, to exempt the establishment, installation, and use of wireless telegraphy apparatus for direct-to-device satellite services from standard licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, provided strict technical conditions regarding operating frequencies, mandated ETSI standards, maximum power levels, and non-airborne operation are met, while specifically excluding apparatus that qualifies as a commercial multi-user gateway device.