gdh82 wrote on Apr 13^th, 2006 at 9:46am:

The deadline for Ofcom's Review of UK Telephone Numbering Plan is less than one week away on 25 May 2006  :o  :o Like a lot of people I feel overwhelmed by the 61-question-response form, even though I feel strongly about the subject.  I know I can ignore them and just structure my response as I so wish but I thought it might be useful to perhaps reduce this list to a dozen or so of the key questions.  I need help with this though!  ::) Personally speaking I would find that helpful in focussing my reponse and maybe it would be helpful to others too.  I've cut and past the questions below within further posts: http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1140696094/90

Thought I duplicate this post in case it gets missed way down its original thread!

Any thoughts on this idea ?

~ Edited by bbb_uk: Deadline updated.

gdh82 wrote on Apr 13^th, 2006 at 9:47am:

Quote: Question 1:What are your views on the strategic principles that Ofcom proposes to apply to its numbering policy decisions?   Question 2:What do you think are consumers’ key current views on numbering, how do you think those views will change, and how should Ofcom’s current decisions take those changes into account?   Question 3:What do you think are the main ways in which technological developments will change the focus of numbering policy decisions, and how should Ofcom’s current decisions take these developments into account?   Question 4:Do you have any comments on Ofcom’s assessment of the current challenges to the Numbering Plan, in terms of a) number availability, b) transparency, or c) consumer abuses?   Question 5:Do you agree that the extension of conservation measures is the best approach to take before the impact of NGNs eases the pressure on geographic number demand? Question 6:Do you agree that the use of overlay codes is the best backstop approach in the event that extended conservation measures are not sufficient to meet demand for geographic numbers? Question 7:Do you agree that Ofcom should continue to respect the geographic identity of numbers until consumer understanding of the impact of technology change evolves further, and what do you consider is the best way to develop that consumer understanding?   Question 8:Do you agree with Ofcom’s proposal to open a new ‘03’ number range for non-geographic, non-revenue sharing services?   Question 9:How should the ‘03’ range be structured, in terms of tariffs and services ? Question 10:How should the ‘08’ range be structured, in terms of tariffs and services? Question 11:Which broad approach should Ofcom take to structuring the ‘09’ range, and if a re-structured ‘09’ range is preferred how would you arrange the different types of ‘09’ services (e.g., according to price per minute, price per call, inclusion of adult content)? Question 12:Should any specific PRS service categories be identified or segregated in order that parents can block access by their children (e.g.,sexually explicit content, gambling)? Is there merit in having a general ‘adults only’ classification, including a range of services to which access might be restricted on the grounds of content, or might consumers wish to apply different rules for different types of content? Question 13:Are there any practical means by which the Numbering Plan could provide improved mobile tariff transparency? Question 14:Do you agree that personal numbers should have a tariff ceiling (or recorded message) to restore trust in those numbers? If so, what level, and should that ceiling include the cost of recorded messages?   Question 15:Do you agree with Ofcom’s proposals to move personal numbers (with the same consumer protection provisions) to the ‘06’ range and to pursue the direct allocation of numbers to end users as proposed at some point in the future? Question 16:Do you have any comments on the use of the 05 number range? Question 17:Do you agree that Ofcom’s overall proposals for a future Numbering Plan are coherent and comprehensive, and do you have any comments on the timescales in which the changes should be implemented ? Question 18:Do you agree with the principle of using consumer protection tests in numbering in order to limit consumer abuses, as long as the relevant legal tests are met? Do you have any suggestions for what tests would be appropriate or any conditions that should be met to pass such tests? Question 19:Do you support the proposal to extend the tariffing provisions of the Numbering Plan so that they apply to customers of all providers on all types of network? Question 20:How do you think the new Numbering Plan could be effectively communicated to consumers? Question 21:What are your views on Ofcom’s analysis and the different options for number charging ? Question 22:Which, if any, numbers might appropriately be allocated using a value-based charge ? Question 23:Do you have any other comments on Ofcom’s proposals for numbering as discussed in Section 5, or any other suggestions for how Ofcom might revise the current Numbering Plan or its administration? Question 24:What do you think of Ofcom’s proposed general approach to managing geographic numbers? Question 25:Do you have detailed evidence or suggestions on the variables likely to influence demand for geographic numbers, how those variables will change over time, and how Ofcom should develop a demand model? Question 26:Do you agree with the specific proposal for how to extend conservation measures, including the extension to areas with a number shortage predicted in the next five (rather than two) years? Question 27:Do you consider there to be any upper limit, in terms of technical feasibility, on the number of areas in which conservation measures could be used ? Question 28:Do you agree with Ofcom’s assessment of the impact of conservation measures on stakeholders? Question 29:Do you agree that Ofcom should pursue these additional ways to improve number utilisation and, if we do, how would stakeholders be impacted and what practical issues are involved?

Quote:

Question 30:What are your views on overlay codes, and Ofcom’s assessment of them, as a fallback option to increase number supply? What should be the maximum number of areas where overlay codes are introduced? Question 31:What are your views on closing the scheme, and Ofcom’s assessment of it, as a fallback option to increase number supply? Question 32:What are your views on wide area codes, and Ofcom’s assessment of them, as a fallback option to increase number supply? Question 33:Might wide area codes be appropriate in regions with a strong identity and, if so, which specific regions are suitable for wide area codes? Question 34:Do you agree with Ofcom’s assessment of the problems with current 08 and 09 in terms of information clarity and consumer perceptions? Question 35:Which of these options for current 08 services do you think is best in terms of a) increasing consumer transparency and b) minimising the costs of re-structuring the 08 range? Question 36:How might early migration to the ‘03’ range be encouraged? Question 37:Is it more important to indicate price per minute or price per call, and does this vary for different types of PRS service? What granularity of PRS tariff information should be given to consumers by the Numbering Plan? Question 38:Should there be any PRS number ranges with no tariff ceiling ? Question 39:What is the typical turnover of 09 numbers, and what does this mean for migration timescales to a new 09 Plan? How could Ofcom structure the 09 range or take other steps to promote voluntary migration of 09 services ? Question 40:Do you agree that that part of the 07 range which is currently unused (071-075) should be reserved for mobile services, with the aim of establishing 07 as a mobile ‘brand’? Question 41:Should Ofcom reserve specific sub-ranges within the 071-075 range for new mobile multimedia services, in the interests of promoting consumer awareness and tariff transparency, and if so how? Question 42:Do you support the use of 100,000-number blocks in allocating mobile numbers to new mobile voice providers? Q 43:Based on the above analysis, if Ofcom were to introduce a charge ceiling on calls to 070 numbers, which of the following levels should be adopted Q 44:Would a requirement to make tariff information clearly available to purchasers of personal numbering services at the point of sale, either in addition to, or instead of a call ceiling, be an effective means of providing tariff transparency on personal numbers? Q 45:If a new sub-range is made available for personal numbering services, how long should the current ‘070’ sub-range remain available for existing providers, in order to minimise migration costs ? Q 46:What issues do you think would need to be resolved before Ofcom makes individual numbers available for direct allocation to end users? Q 47:What do you consider to be the main strengths and weaknesses of the current rules-based system of UK number allocation? Q 48:Do you agree with these principles for number charging? Q 49:What are your views on Ofcom’s assessment of the issues to be considered in setting and reviewing number charges? For example, should other issues be considered in developing charging proposals ? Q 50:Do you agree that charging for numbers could disincentivise economically inefficient behaviour, and incentivise economically efficient utilisation? Q 51:What internal changes would communications providers have to make, and at what cost, to support charging for numbers? Would these changes be preferable to earlier and more widespread use of conservation measures and (limited) changes to increase geographic number supply? Q 52:How might existing number allocation rules be reduced if charging for numbers was introduced ? Q 53:What are your views on this illustrative charging mechanism, and would you suggest any changes or alternatives to it ? Q54:How would charging for number blocks affect consumers ? Q 55:What impact do you think charging for numbers would have on sub-allocation? Should Ofcom encourage or facilitate sub-allocation and, if charging were introduced, would changes be needed to the process of suballocation to facilitate trading? Q 56:Which types of consumer abuse do you think Ofcom should particularly attempt to address through its numbering policy decisions? Q 57:Which number ranges and types of originating communications provider do you think should be covered by an extension of the Numbering Plan’s tariffing provisions? What practical issues are involved, and how would this vary according to the number ranges and service providers involved? Q 58:What do you think of the potential conditions proposed by Ofcom for inclusion in a consumer protection test for number allocation, including the proposals that numbers should not be provided to anyone with a particular track record of persistent and/or serious consumer abuse ? Q 59:Are there any other circumstances in which it may be appropriate for Ofcom to refuse number allocations ? Q 60:Would you support the use of a consumer protection test as a basis for withdrawing number allocations? What kind of considerations should Ofcom apply in any such test, and what would be the practical issues involved in applying such a test? Q 61:What consumer abuses do you think might occur in the future, and what steps might Ofcom take now in its numbering policy in order to reduce the potential for such abuses?

Better have a go myself then ....  ::) ::) ::) ::)  (Sorry - I know its easter!)

There's more than one  way to skin a cat of course but for what it's worth here's my first go at extracting "the key questions" from Ofcom's neverending story:


Quote:

Question 1:What are your views on the strategic principles that Ofcom proposes to apply to its numbering policy decisions? Question 2:What do you think are consumers’ key current views on numbering, how do you think those views will change, and how should Ofcom’s current decisions take those changes into account? Question 8: Do you agree with Ofcom’s proposal to open a new ‘03’ number range for non-geographic, non-revenue sharing services? Question 9:How should the ‘03’ range be structured, in terms of tariffs and services ? Question 10:How should the ‘08’ range be structured, in terms of tariffs and services? Question 11:Which broad approach should Ofcom take to structuring the ‘09’ range, and if a re-structured ‘09’ range is preferred how would you arrange the different types of ‘09’ services (e.g., according to price per minute, price per call, inclusion of adult content)? Question 14: Do you agree that personal numbers should have a tariff ceiling (or recorded message) to restore trust in those numbers? If so, what level, and should that ceiling include the cost of recorded messages? Question 15: Do you agree with Ofcom’s proposals to move personal numbers (with the same consumer protection provisions) to the ‘06’ range and to pursue the direct allocation of numbers to end users as proposed at some point in the future? Question 16: Do you have any comments on the use of the 05 number range? Question 17: Do you agree that Ofcom’s overall proposals for a future Numbering Plan are coherent and comprehensive, and do you have any comments on the timescales in which the changes should be implemented ? Question 19: Do you support the proposal to extend the tariffing provisions of the Numbering Plan so that they apply to customers of all providers on all types of network? Question 20:How do you think the new Numbering Plan could be effectively communicated to consumers? Question 34: Do you agree with Ofcom’s assessment of the problems with current 08 and 09 in terms of information clarity and consumer perceptions? Question 35:Which of these options for current 08 services do you think is best in terms of a) increasing consumer transparency and b) minimising the costs of re-structuring the 08 range? Question 36:How might early migration to the ‘03’ range be encouraged?

This reduces the questionnaire to 15 questions and at least makes the task more manageable and could provide a more acheivable focus for making a consultation response.  

Now I'm not suggesting of course that other questions can't be answered, I'm just trying to avoid feeling put-off by the whole thing!  (Surely Ofcom wouldn't wish to deter a large public response by having a unnecessarily complicated questionnaire - of course not!  ;) ;) ;) )

Any feedback on this appreciated - thanks in advance...

Thanks for these 'key' questions.

Ofcom has extended the deadline by 3 weeks to 25 May.

Thanks for that, Dave.  This extension may allow me time to rediscover some enthusiasm for responding after Ofcom's recent annoucement to futher delay for 2 years its proposals to reduce the cost of 0870s  :'(