Background
The main purpose of the Communications Act 2021 is to bring together the legislation governing the regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting previously dealt with separately in the now repealed Telecommunications Act 1984 and the Broadcasting Act 1993.
- The 2021 Act, in updating the regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting on the Island, also updates and modernises the terminology used in existing legislation.
- The 2021 Act largely adopts a technology and service-neutral approach to allow for flexibility in the future and it has been drafted with futureproofing in mind.
- The 2021 Act is now in force with the exception of new provisions relating to On Demand Programme services, which will be brought in in due course
Visit the Communications Act 2021 to learn more.
Appointed Day Orders - What are they?
Appointed Day Orders are an act of Tynwald which can be brought into operation, either all at once or in stages. Once a Bill has been drafted it can then be brought into force in partial, or as a whole on a particular day. An appointed day order can also be known as a commencement order.
Since the Communication Act's Royal Assent on 20th April 2021, there have been three amendments too the Act. These changes are documented in the table below;
Appointed Day Orders under the Communications Act 2021.
| Appointed Day Order No. 1 | Brought in to force the electronic communications networks and services provisions of the Communications Act 2021 | Made on 31st January 2022 |
| Appointed Day Order No. 2 | Established that the Manx Heritage Foundation is the body that will deal with Gaelic Broadcasting | Made on 29th April 2022 |
| Appointed Day Order No. 3 | Repealed the Broadcasting Act 1993 and brings into force the Broadcasting provisions of the Communications Act 2021 with the exception of new provisions relating to On Demand Programme services, which will be brought in in due course. | Made on 11th October 2022 |