Internet Service Providers (Universal Service Orders) Bill - 2ND READING

A

BILL

TO

Implement a Universal Service Order mechanism for internet service providers, and set that at a minimum starting point of 10 megabits per second.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Amendment to the Communications Act 2003

(1) In this legislation, the “Secretary of State” shall be the cabinet minister with responsibility for digital policy.

(1) In section 65 of the aforementioned act, insert after subsection 2-

(2) Wherein the Secretary of State creates an order under subsection 1, they may specify that order to be a “Universal Service Order” so long as it meets the conditions laid out in this bill.

(3) Such an order must have extent to the whole of the United Kingdom except wherein such extent would extend into areas neither reserved or excepted in matters of devolution.

(3) Such an order must specify a minimum download speed to be provided by the connection or service provider of relevance

(a) Such a specified minimum download speed must be no less than 10 megabits per second.

(3) Such an order must-

(a) specify a minimum download speed of no less than 10 megabits per second; and

(b) be made in consultation with OFCOM and any other authority the Secretary of State sees fit.

(3) Such an order must-

(a) specify a minimum download speed of no less than 10 megabits per second; and

(b) specify any cost recovery measures associated with the implementation of the order; and

(c) be made in consultation with OFCOM and any other authority the Secretary of State sees fit.

(4) Within one month of the passage of this act, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament

an order to implement a Universal Service Order through the Communications Act 2003.

(5) All Universal Service Orders enacted under the authority of this Act must allocate a minimum of a 60-day time frame for all related entities to adjust to the new statutory minimums set out therein.

2 Commencement, Extent and Short Title

(1) This act shall come into force six months after Royal Assent.

(2) This act shall extend to the whole of the United Kingdom

(3) This act shall be known as the Internet Service Providers (Universal Service Orders) Act 2019

This bill was written by the Right Honourable Twistednuke CT MBE OM PC MP for Northumbria on behalf of the Classical Liberals.

This bill reading shall end 27th of September