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First of all I would like to apologise for the difficulties that you have been experiencing with the University of Bristol's student telephony system. I hope that the information below explains why the University introduced and continues to use 0870 numbers. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I will happily discuss any 0870 issues directly (without the use of a FOI request), as long as there are not issues of confidentiality.

1) What are the equivalent geographic numbers re 0870xxxx:

The University sets up each individual site with a range of numbers from an ISDX switch that will network with all other existing extension numbers around the University. Telewest then provide individual Direct Dial numbers for each extension, which is then programmed toward the 0870xxx numbering range.

So if your ext is 36836, this would translate to 0117 3071236, which is then programmed onto 0870 8149976, each extension number is randomly "shuffled up" so
that the original extension is hidden.

The geographic equivalent within the University can be 0117 90 xxx
Or 0117 95xxxx, or 0117 903xxx

2) Why did the University introduce 0870xxxx:

The government passed a ruling that all student should be provided with a room, that contained a data port, and a telephone, once this ruling was passed, telephone providers decided that this was a good scheme, ACC were the telephone company responsible for the introduction of telephone/data service within Bristol University,
As time went on, ACC found it difficult to collect revenue for this service, and so finally went into liquidation, at this point Bristol University then found that it had an obligation to provide services, but the cost to do so as a higher education facility would have been prohibitive, and so the telephone consultants of the day, were asked to find an alternative method, and so the Dog N Bone service was introduced. This means that students no longer receive bills in arrears, which was one of the main criticisms from the student body about the previous operators.

The purpose of the 0870 numbers is to help cover the costs of providing the telephone service to the student community. At this point, each student has a telephone, that we do not charge rental for, free internal calls around the University. Plus the University maintains this service and is free to students, with very competitive rates for international calls. Plus this year the introduction of call plans, which will also make the student calls cheaper.

Another important consideration is keeping bill handling to an absolute minimum, to save on costs. All external calls that are made on a 0870 number extension must be paid for through the Dog N Bone service. It is impossible to make a reverse change telephone call on a 0870 extension number. The same is not true for a standard telephone number. This would pose enormous management difficulties if students abused the system and it would be necessary to carefully check the logs of each of the several thousand telephone extensions.

3) How much revenue/rebate does the University of Bristol receive:

Revenue 2003/2004 60K,  expenditure for this period 88k, 2004/2005 revenue 52k, expenditure 65k. The University endeavours to operate this service at cost, although it can be seen that the service has lost money for the past two years.

4) Which company supplies the non-geographic numbers:

Catalyst and Your Communications (formerly Eurocall)

5) Is the University of Bristol Fully aware of the difficulties experienced by overseas callers attempting to dial non-geographic numbers, and the increased costs faced by the UK callers:

Yes, over the past eighteen months we have had 6 complaints, all logged, we then investigate, and generally find that the people trying to call the 0870 numbers are using either discounted credit cards, Mobiles phones, but more so it's the carrier at the far end that has the problem, we have a note on Student Services web page to this effect, and have all emails that have told us about this problem., after advising the users to contact the carriers, these problems were then resolved.

6)  Why is the COI's advice is being ignored in that University of Bristol, as a public body, continues to operate 0870 numbers? Has the COI advice been considered and if it has, please provide meeting minutes and any other supporting information that relates to this issue.

The University does not consider that in supplying student's with a telephone service this constitutes a public service, as students have a contract with their Hall of Residence. Hence the University was not aware of and did not consider the COI's advice. It is of note that many other universities in the UK manage their telephone services in a similar manner with 0870 numbers.
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