Proof of safety of 5G equipment

Summary

The requester asked for evidence of CE mark certification and liability insurance for 5G equipment used in a trial by Sure to ensure public safety. The Communications Commission responded that it does not hold this information because it is an economic regulator, not a technical standards body, and does not manage government insurance details.

Key Facts

• The Communications Commission is the National Regulatory Authority for telecommunications and broadcasting on the Isle of Man.
• The Commission acts as an economic regulator and does not mandate technology or equipment standards.
• The Commission does not deal with insurance for the Government and therefore does not hold details of any insurance policies.
• The request was closed on 7 August 2020 with an outcome of 'Information not held'.
• The Commission operates under the framework of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

Data Disclosed

• 1371438
• 2020-07-16
• 2020-08-07
• 1984
• 2
• 1

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

We understand that the equipment necessary for the operation of 5G may not have received a 'CE' mark yet, and therefore cannot be insured. Could you please provide evidence of appropriate public and product liability insurance and CE mark certification for the 5G equipment for the protection of the Manx public and environment in relation to the '5G' trial by Sure? Clearly, a product cannot be deemed safe without CE standard and appropriate insurance, whatever guidelines are in place.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Ivan Kiely Ground Floor, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas Isle Of Man, IM1 2SF Tel: +44(0)1624 677022 Fax: +44(0)1624 626499

Our ref: 1371438 7 August 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 16 July 2020 and which states:

"We understand that the equipment necessary for the operation of 5G may not have received a 'CE' mark yet, and therefore cannot be insured. Could you please provide evidence of appropriate public and product liability insurance and CE mark certification for the 5G equipment for the protection of the Manx public and environment in relation to the '5G' trial by Sure? Clearly, a product cannot be deemed safe without CE standard and appropriate insurance, whatever guidelines are in place."

The Communications Commission (the Commission) is the National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors on the Island. In relation to the telecommunications sector the Commission is an economic regulator charged with promoting sustainable competition in the Isle of Man. The Commission is not a technical standards regulator and does not mandate technology or equipment.
The Commission works within the framework of the applicable legislation, the Telecommunications Act 1984. The Communications Commission does not deal with insurance for the Government and so does not hold, nor have access to the details of any such insurance which may or may not be in place. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 1371438 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours faithfully