Ofcom warns of telecoms  shake-up

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5538d06e-8719-11dc-a3ff-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

Ofcom is concerned the Commission, as part of a revised EU framework on telecoms regulation, could secure the right to veto certain liberalisation measures put forward by national watchdogs.

In fixed-line telephone markets, these measures are usually focused on former monopolies such as BT and Deutsche Telekom, if they are deemed to wield “significant market power”. Some measures in the UK, for example, have obliged BT to give smaller telecoms companies access to its fixed-line networks so they can sell phone and broadband services to consumers.

Viviane Reding, the European commissioner respons­ible for telecoms, is due to publish her plan to reform the EU telecoms framework next month, but a draft proposal circulating in Brussels has already sparked divisions inside the Commission.

As well as the proposal for veto powers, the draft outlined ideas for a pan-European telecoms regulator to act as an advisory body to the Commission.

Writing in the Financial Times, Mr Richards warns “a centralisation of power to Brussels, plus a new European bureaucracy” would not enhance the quality of EU telecoms regulation. “The harmonisation of regulation across Europe works only when it respects the freedom of independent nat­ional regulators to respond to conditions in their own markets.” He says the revised EU telecoms framework must “strike the right balance between promoting consistency and harmonisation in European regulation, and the need to reflect different conditions in national markets”.

Ofcom favours strengthening the existing European regulators’ group, which represents national telecoms watchdogs in Brussels, rather than creating a pan-European telecoms agency.

Ms Reding argues that her revised telecoms framework would improve consistency of rules across the EU, help younger rivals to challenge the dominance of former state-owned monopolies, and boost development of ultra-fast broadband networks.

However, her call for a pan-European telecoms regulator has sparked concern among some member states that have little appetite for the agency.

Behind this is a fear that it would erode the powers of national telecoms watchdogs and alarm over how the body would address often competing national interests on sensitive topics such as access to markets.

Ms Reding’s draft overhaul provoked sharp tensions last month within the Commission, with the competition department emerging as a leading sceptic. However, these internal differences are believed to have been addressed.

A majority of EU member states and the European parliament must back Ms Reding’s revised telecoms framework for it to take effect. It is unlikely to become law until 2009 at the earliest.

It is difficult to believe they could do a worse job than OFCOM or ICSTIS (or whatever they are called now).

Interestingly ICSTIS found in my favour (completely) with regard to a complaint I raised recently. However in just about every respect the result was useless. They completely misunderstood the problem, the penalty was a slap on thew wrist and the wrong party in my opinion was slapped!

And the whole process was like pulling teeth!

At least the EU is not afraid to tell telecoms companies what to do on the mobile roaming rate question and stuff any possible subsequent legal consequences seems to be their view.

Whereas meek and mild and feeble Ofcom tell me they cannot ensure universal connectivity to 03 numbers as this is a business decision for all individual telecoms carriers to make apart from BT, who they say they can force to carry calls to 03 because they have Significant Market Power.

Yet it was Ofcom that suggested 03 numbers were the solution in the first place.............................!!! >:( >:( >:(

Why the ruddy hell didn't they form these new codes for geographically priced NGNs in the 01 and 02 number ranges if they knew ensuring universal connectivity to 03 numbers was going to be such a problem.

NGMsGhost wrote on Nov 5^th, 2007 at 6:22pm:

Whereas meek and mild and feeble Ofcom tell me they cannot ensure universal connectivity to 03 numbers as this is a business decision for all individual telecoms carriers to make apart from BT, who they say they can force to carry calls to 03 because they have Significant Market Power.

Off topic - but can you enlighten me on the above statement. I'm in active correspondence with McPlod here in Scotland to get them to adopt 03x as their standard non-emergency number instead of 0845!

farci wrote on Nov 5^th, 2007 at 10:37pm:

Off topic - but can you enlighten me on the above statement. I'm in active correspondence with McPlod here in Scotland to get them to adopt 03x as their standard non-emergency number instead of 0845!

Ofcom have on the one hand introduced 03 numbers as the solution for 0845 users who do not want to charge extra when they could have just changed 0845 to be at geographic prices like 0870 (less likely to cause movement elsewhere than repricing 0870 will be).

On the other hand they have done nothing to make regulations for 03 insisting that all call carriers must ensure universal connectivity to them (unlike 01/02) even though where they choose to do so Ofcom have insisted the price of the call must be the same as for 01/02 calls.

This means many mobile companies and companies like 1899.co.uk etc are not connecting to these 03 numbers.  As a result Plod, NHS and co are using it as an excuse not to move over to 03 at this stage.

03 came in to being at the end of August but Ofcom failed to promote, publicise or explain it. In other words another classic Ofcom ballsup.  Or perhaps it is deliberate to help their telco chums make as much money as possible for as long as possible depending on your point of view.

   "The harmonisation of regulation across Europe works only when it respects the freedom of independent nat­ional regulators to respond to conditions in their own markets."

   The revised EU telecoms framework must "strike the right balance between promoting consistency and harmonisation in European regulation, and the need to reflect different conditions in national markets".
   Ed Richard (Chief Executive), Ofcom

farci wrote on Nov 6^th, 2007 at 10:24am:

"The harmonisation of regulation across Europe works only when it respects the freedom of independent nat­ional regulators to respond to conditions in their own markets."    The revised EU telecoms framework must "strike the right balance between promoting consistency and harmonisation in European regulation, and the need to reflect different conditions in national markets".    Ed Richard (Chief Executive), Ofcom

Presumably the different conditions that exist in the UK are the need for scammers to continue with their scams unfettered and unhindered and with the blessing of OFCoN ahead of the need of the public to have a properly competitive and transparent telecoms marketplace with proper competition and services available only at the lowest possible prices.

NGMsGhost wrote on Nov 6^th, 2007 at 9:50am:

farci wrote on Nov 5th, 2007 at 10:37pm: Off topic - but can you enlighten me on the above statement. I'm in active correspondence with McPlod here in Scotland to get them to adopt 03x as their standard non-emergency number instead of 0845! Ofcom have on the one hand introduced 03 numbers as the solution for 0845 users who do not want to charge extra when they could have just changed 0845 to be at geographic prices like 0870 (less likely to cause movement elsewhere than repricing 0870 will be). On the other hand they have done nothing to make regulations for 03 insisting that all call carriers must ensure universal connectivity to them (unlike 01/02) even though where they choose to do so Ofcom have insisted the price of the call must be the same as for 01/02 calls. This means many mobile companies and companies like 1899.co.uk etc are not connecting to these 03 numbers.  As a result Plod, NHS and co are using it as an excuse not to move over to 03 at this stage. 03 came in to being at the end of August but Ofcom failed to promote, publicise or explain it. In other words another classic Ofcom ballsup.  Or perhaps it is deliberate to help their telco chums make as much money as possible for as long as possible depending on your point of view.

OfFraud seems to have taken up 03 numbering for itself:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/cad/foiindex/foi_act_pub_scheme/

Obtaining information
Most of the information described in this Scheme is available on the Ofcom website at www.ofcom.org.uk, or is available as paper copies. If you do not have access to our website, cannot find information or wish to obtain paper copies, please contact us by letter, fax or email.

If you require help or advice in accessing information, you can telephone the Ofcom Contact Centre on

Telephone: 0300 123 3333
Textphone: 0300 123 2024
Welsh Line: 0300 123 2023

Address letters to:

Information Requests
Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA

Fax: information requests on 0300 123 0811
Email: information.requests@ofcom.org.uk

Overall responsibility for the Scheme is held by the Secretary to the Corporation who can be contacted at:

The Secretary to the Corporation
The Office of Communications
2A, Riverside House
Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA

Telephone: 020 79813601
Fax: 0300 123 0811
Email: graham.howell@ofcom.org.uk


Wondeful stuff. The UK telephone regulator publishing numbers that it will not force providers to terminate. It doesn't get much better than this.

NTS is one massive fraud. Ofcom is complicit in that fraud. There seems to be no end in sight now.

See Sunday Telegraph (11th November 07) on this topic.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/11/11/cneu111.xml

See comment by Dr Richard North:  
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-part-of-master-plan.html

farci wrote on Nov 5^th, 2007 at 11:24am:

Ofcom warns of telecoms  shake-up http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5538d06e-8719-11dc-a3ff-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 [...]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/14/telecoms.eurocommission

<<
The European commissioner for telecoms, Viviane Reding, today warned the telecoms watchdogs across Europe that she would no longer tolerate them "cosying up" to the industry they are supposed to regulating.

Their collective failure, she said, was stifling the development of the EC's information-based economy and cross-boarder competition. It was also keeping the prices paid by the EU's 500 million telecoms consumers artificially high.

Her speech has been seen as an effective warning to Ofcom that the commission will step in and act if the telecoms regulator fails to tackle poor customer service and overcharging by the UK's home phone and broadband providers.

Speaking in London on the first date of a European tour to promote the commission's proposed single set of telecoms regulations, Reding said:

"Today's telecoms reform proposals put Europe's citizens centre stage. In the past, Europe has made substantial progress by opening telecoms markets to new players and by progressively ensuring more competition. However, dominant telecoms operators, often still protected by government authorities, remain in control of critical market segments, especially of the broadband market."

She said it was absurd that 10% of EU citizens still had no broadband access, adding past failures by regulators across the EU had held back investment.

"We need a new dose of competition, an effective system of independent telecoms regulators, new investment into competitive infrastructures and more space for new wireless services are needed to put Europe's digital economy on track," Reding said.

"Too many of the national regulators have been too close to the firms they are supposed to be regulating. I want to shake the whole thing up."

Her statements will be welcomed by anyone unable to access broadband, and come as relief to consumers who have been on the receiving end of poor service from their telecoms provider.

Ofcom's critics have complained its "light touch" regulation of the UK telecoms market has led to consumers being treated appallingly by some firms, which operate safe in the knowledge no action would be taken against them. Critics have also complained it is almost impossible for consumers to switch supplier.

[...]

A spokeswoman for Ofcom said the UK telecoms market was one of the most competitive in the world and that many of Reding's proposals were pioneered in the UK. She also pointed out that competition has brought down prices substantially for British consumers.

"We are yet to see her proposals in full and will examine them in detail in due course," the spokeswoman said.

"However, we feel we do have the structures in place to regulate the telecoms market. We always want the company to deal with a complaint in the first instance but there are very clear procedures to help consumers – something we are upgrading in the next few weeks."
>>

idb wrote on Nov 17^th, 2007 at 2:27am:

...The European commissioner for telecoms, Viviane Reding, today warned the telecoms watchdogs across Europe that she would no longer tolerate them "cosying up" to the industry they are supposed to regulating.... ....Ofcom's critics have complained its "light touch" regulation of the UK telecoms market has led to consumers being treated appallingly by some firms, which operate safe in the knowledge no action would be taken against them. Critics have also complained it is almost impossible for consumers to switch supplier.

Ofcom's lackadaisical response to this news is because they know that there's many a slip betwixt EU policy announcements and implementation. This is when we need collectively to write to our MEPs and MPs endorsing Ms Reding's approach and informing them that we'll be watching out for their support >:(
                                         [url=www.writetothem.com[/url]]www.writetothem.com[/url]

Here's one I made earlier:

FOR THE ATTENTION OF:

Struan Stevenson MEP
John Purvis CBE MEP
Alyn Smith MEP
Elspeth Attwooll MEP
David Martin MEP
Ian Hudghton MEP
Catherine Stihler MEP

Dear Struan Stevenson, Catherine Stihler, David Martin, Elspeth Attwooll, Alyn Smith, John Purvis CBE and Ian Hudghton,

May I draw to your attention Vivian Reding's recent initiative on a revised EU framework on telecoms regulation. In a recent speech in London she was reported as saying she would '...no longer tolerate them "cosying up" to the industry they are supposed to be regulating....' In the UK's case I believe this is justified criticism of Ofcom's inability to act independently in the consumer's interests. As an example, I cite their failure to regulate so-called 'non-geographical numbers' eg. 0870, 0845, 0844 whose inflated charges are hidden and inflate consumers' phone bills. For more information check out www.saynoto0870.com.

May I have your assurance you will monitor and support Ms Reding's initiative?


Yours sincerely,

It seems at least two Scottish MEPs - Elspeth Attwool and Catherine Stihler - are interested enough to reply to my mail (see above).

Has anybody else written or had responses?

EU- Viviane Reding
May I endorse Farsis initiative re writing to MEPs. For reasons well known to contributors to this site, there is no mileage in trying to persuade OFCOM or HMG.
I have just emailed Ms Reding asking whether/how we can make representations direct.I will post any answer. Maybe we could try a different tack eg asking for a ruling on what 'added value' services can use 0844/0870/0871?
Did anyone notice in the Guardian report on Ms Redings initiative that they hope to make 0870 etc nos diallable across borders? This may deny us a source of geo numbers if companies can use non geo on letterheads.

Incidentally. re NGMsghosts footnote re Ofcom definition of 'Consumer', Ofcom told me that this included businesses using 0870 nos= they did not respond to my point that as callers were paying for the companies phone contract, they were not actually consumerse

http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10&vidid=2573&view=video&page=1

See my earlier posts where I recommended lobbying of MEPs in this matter.

I received the following today from Struan Stevenson MEP (Con):

Dear Mr. Farci,

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the Commission initiative to
revise the EU framework telecoms regulation. As the cost of calls to 084
and 087 numbers varies and is oftentimes inadequately explained to
consumers, I sympathise with your concerns.

As you may know, telephone numbers beginning with 0800, 084 and 087 are
used by companies for marketing purposes. Although the 0800 prefix is
always used for numbers which are free of charge,  084 and 087 numbers
are used to offer business rate services. These numbers are therefore
likely to be more expensive than geographical numbers.

Commissioner Reding's proposed reform of the telecoms regulation,
presented on 13th November 2007, does not, however, deal with telephone
call charges directly. Nevertheless, and as you recognised in your
quote, the focus of the new reform is greater competition. As such, the
reform would also oblige telecom providers to provide all relevant
information on prices and other relevant information. Consumers would
therefore be able to make informed choices before making their choices.
The Commission proposal includes the creation of a new European Telecom
Market Authority to support the Commission and national regulators to
ensure consistency between market rules and consumer regulations.

The Conservative Party is highly supportive of Commissioner Reading's
proposed changes that benefit customers and competition. My colleague
Malcolm Harbour MEP, member of Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee and the Conservative Party spokesman on internal market
issues, is dealing with this issue directly and I can assure you will
monitor and support Ms. Reding's initiative.

Anybody got Malcolm Harbour as an MEP?

He is MEP for the West Midlands apparently.

jgxenite wrote on Nov 27^th, 2007 at 11:33am:

He is MEP for the West Midlands apparently.

Any Brummies volunteering to write? You CAN write in the West Midlands? ;D