Telecommunications Act (TCA) (TCA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Aim
1 The aim of this Act is to ensure that a range of cost-effective, high quality, and nationally and internationally competitive telecommunications services is available to private individuals and the business community. 2 It shall in particular: a. ensure that a reliable universal service is provided, at affordable prices, for all sections of the population in all parts of the country; b. ensure that telecommunications traffic is free from interference and respects personal and incorporeal property rights; c. allow effective competition in the provision of telecommunications services; d. protect users of telecommunications services from unfair advertising and from abuse associated with value-added services; e. protect children and minors from the risks that arise from using telecommunications services.
Para. 2 let. d — Inserted by No I of the FA of 24 March 2006 (AS 2007 921; BBl 2003 7951). Amended by No I of the FA of 22 March 2019, in force since 1 July 2021 (AS 2020 6159; BBl 2017 6559). Para. 2 let. e — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 March 2019, in force since 1 Jan. 2021 (AS 2020 6159; BBl 2017 6559).
Art. 2 Subject
This Act shall regulate the transmission of information by means of telecommunications techniques, including the transmission of radio and television programme services, provided the Federal Act of 24 March 2006 on Radio and Television (RTVA) does not prescribe otherwise.
Art. 2 — Amended by Annex No II 2 of the FA of 24 March 2006 on Radio and Television, in force since 1 Apr. 2007 (AS 2007 737; BBl 2003 1569). SR 784.40
Art. 3 Definitions
In this Act: a. information means signs, signals, characters, images, sounds and any other form of representation addressed to human or other living beings or to machines; b. telecommunications service means transmission of information for third parties by means of telecommunications techniques; c. transmission by means of telecommunications techniques means sending or receiving of information, by lines or radio, by means of electrical, magnetic or optical signals or other electromagnetic signals; cbis. public telephony service means a telecommunications service for the transmission of speech in real time by means of one or more addressing resources provided for this purpose in a national or international numbering plan; cter. value-added service means a service provided by means of a telecommunications service and charged to the customers by their telecommunications service provider in addition to telecommunications services; d. telecommunications installations means apparatus, lines
let. cbis — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 March 2019, in force since 1 Jan. 2021 (AS 2020 6159; BBl 2017 6559). let. cter — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 March 2019, in force since 1 Jan. 2021 (AS 2020 6159; BBl 2017 6559). let. dbisanddter — Inserted by No I of the FA of 24 March 2006 (AS 2007 921; BBl 2003 7951). Repealed by No I of the FA of 22 March 2019, with effect from 1 Jan. 2021 (AS 2020 6159; BBl 2017 6559). let. e — Amended by No I of the FA of 24 March 2006, in force since 1 Ap