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<p>The Government remains committed to implementing all remaining provisions of Part
2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 before the
end of 2024. Departmental officials have been prioritising delivery of important measures
to help deployment based on extensive engagement with operators, site providers and
other stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>The policy team responsible for the implementation
of the PSTI Act, amongst a number of other priorities, is currently staffed by five
policy officials below Senior Civil Servant grade, who are supported by legal resource
as required.</p><p> </p><p>The team also covers other policy areas, including local
authority engagement and street works issues relating to broadband.</p><p> </p><p>The
team provides updates to stakeholders on the implementation of the PSTI Act as part
of regular, ongoing stakeholder engagement; and recently held two series of roundtable
discussions for stakeholders with an interest in the implementation of the PSTI Act
in July and September 2023. PSTI Act implementation is raised in many other stakeholder
meetings as part of our wider agenda.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the complex nature of the
provisions of the PSTI Act that relate to the renewal of relevant leases under the
Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, and their interaction with the backdating of rent under
that legislation, no final decision has been taken on transitional provisions. However,
backdated payments were raised as a key concern during Parliamentary passage, and
are something the Department is considering closely. The Department undertook to look
carefully at the potential impacts of the backdating of rent when considering the
commencement of these provisions and any transitional provisions, and this work is
ongoing.</p>
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