http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nts_focus/notes/nts29112007

07|07|08

NTS Focus Group – 29th November 2007 – 2.00 pm Ofcom

Agenda item (1) - Introductions

Attendance:

Sean Hartley
BT

Rob Day
BT

Justin Hornby
C&W (Chair)

Laurent Pariat
C&W

Christine Roberts
Colt

Richard Anderson
Colt

Andrew Monk
CPW

Will Goodall (WG)
Flextel

Andy Martin
IV Response

Nancy Saunders
Kcom

Geoff Brighton
Ofcom

Clive Hillier
Ofcom

Dirmuid Jennings (DJ)
Reality Telecom

John Lockyer
Teamphone

Mike Barford
Tiscali

Anne McCardle
Verizon

Lee Alloway
Verizon

Sandra Reid
Virgin Media


Agenda Item (2): Review of minutes of previous meeting

Minutes approved. GB / CH to confirm that previous month’s minutes had been uploaded to the website.

Action Dec07_01: Ofcom to confirm all minutes have been uploaded on the Ofcom website.

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Agenda (3): Update / progress report on the current 'live' NTS related consultations / investigations: (Ofcom/All)

Review of Regulation of Premium Rate Services

CH advised that progress was much as reported at the last meeting. An initial document was expected to be published pre-Christmas.

NCCN 500 investigation / NTS call termination market review
CH informed the group that Ofcom are to meet with respondents to the draft decision next week. Publication of the final determination is not expected until 2008.

General Condition 14 Enforcement Programme
CH indicated that the Ofcom enforcement work was continuing.

Delay to 0870 implementation

CH confirmed that the implementation of changes to 0870 had been delayed. Ofcom stated that there was no current date for the consultation needed to remove the NTS condition from 0870.

WG asked for clarification as to the consultation process Ofcom intended to follow. CH confirmed that it would take the form of a consultation with accompanying draft legal notification. Subject to the responses, this will be followed by a statement implementing the changes.

JH asked if the statement would mark the removal of the NTS Condition from 0870 or whether there would be an implementation period. GB indicated that Ofcom would carry out an assessment against its previously stated policy. If the proposals were not significantly changed then it was possible that only a very short implementation period would be necessary. However a more significant change to the proposals or new information resulting from the consultation may lead Ofcom to allow a longer timeframe for implementation post the statement. GB stressed that it was Ofcom’s aim to minimise any further delays to implementation of the policy.

CH reminded the group that any comments in relation to the 0870 dispute needed to be made by COP 30 th November. A final determination is expected to be published before Christmas.

Agenda (4): 0870 Dispute Draft Determination (FleXtel)

WG presented on FleXtel’s view of the 0870 draft determination. Ahead of the presentation JH indicated that Ofcom, Cable&Wireless and BT would not be commenting on the contents of the draft determination ahead of a final determination.

CH said that at the request of the case team handling the dispute, Ofcom would not comment on the presentation and Flextel should submit any formal comments in writing to the case leader.

A copy of the presentation was circulated to attendees.

NS asked Ofcom if the mobile termination rate appeal due to be heard in January at the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) would have any impact on the 0870 determination as one of the major points of contention was the “Gains from Trade” test used extensively in both determinations. NS also asked whether the 0870 determination would be delayed until after the Mobile Termination appeal.

WG raised concerns, as set out in the presentation, about the accuracy of some of the detail contained within the draft determination.

WG queried the status of the spreadsheet issued by Ofcom in relation to the 0870 draft determination and whether it constituted formal clarification of the draft determination. GB advised that it allowed the rates to be recalculated and that the equations in the draft determination take precedent over the spreadsheet.

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Agenda (5): Implementation of the 03 Range (Ofcom/All)

Ofcom confirmed that they had not received any disputes regarding the 03 range. AM queried whether the same process would be followed by Ofcom in deciding any dispute and whether the same Gains from Trade Test would be used. Ofcom responded that each case would be considered upon its merits and dealt with accordingly.

JH stated that C&W had experienced some billing difficulties in relation to 03 and asked BT whether this was confined to C&W. SH confirmed that BT did have some billing issues at present.

NS requested that BT respond to the OCCN which Kingston had submitted in September and for which they were still awaiting an acknowledgement.

GB enquired whether there were any issues with any operator refusing to open the 03 range. NS advised that there was an issue specific to Hull.

Agenda (6): International Access (BT/All)

JH pointed out to the group that C&W and BT had made their positions clear on international access to 0844 and 0871 numbers and asked if any of the other operators with international interconnection would provide an update. None was forthcoming. NS requested that the chair should approach all operators in writing for an update.

SH advised that international access to 0844 and 0871 was progressing and that pricing was currently being signed off internally within BT. Requests for access should be made through a DMA form. BT aims to complete work in the next few weeks and hopefully before Christmas.

WG raised concerns about the availability of 0871 from Germany once it became a Premium Rate Number. SH said he was unaware of any such concerns.

Action Dec07_02: JH to write to all international carriers regarding their plans to open international access to 0871 and 0844.

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Agenda (7): 070 pre-call announcements

GB stated that Ofcom were investigating the issues surrounding pre-call announcements on 070 numbers and said that they would let operators know of any developments as soon as possible.

Action May07_03: JH to hold discussions with the chair of the Mobile Broadband Group with a view to gaining input to NTS debates from the mobile community (to include the prospect of MNO attendance at the NSTFG, or NTSFG member attendance at the Mobile Broadband Group).

JH approached Hamish MacLeod who made it clear that the mobile companies would only be willing to participate with the Focus Group in relation to specific issues. Action Discharged until such time as a specific issue needs mobile operator input.

Action Sep07_01: ICSTIS to provide more detail on the levy calculation

Action Sep07_02: ICSTIS to inform Focus group when consultation responses are available on the ICSTIS website

Action Sep07_03: JH to update minutes before publication on the Ofcom website. Discharged – see agenda item 1.

Action Sep07_04: All international carriers to confirm their plans for making international access available for 0844 and 0871.

Action Oct07_01: LP to update September minutes before publication on the Ofcom website.


Date of Next Meeting:

The meeting next meeting will take place on Thursday 10 th January 2008 , commencing at 2:00pm , at Riverside House, London .

Summary of New and Outstanding Actions:

Aug06_09
Porting differential issue to be added to the agenda of the first NTSFG meeting of 2007

Sep07_01
ICSTIS to provide more detail on the levy calculation

Sep07_02:
ICSTIS to inform Focus group when consultation responses are available on the ICSTIS website

Sep07_04:
All international carriers to confirm their plans for making international access available for 0844 and 0871.

Dec07_01:
Ofcom to confirm all minutes have been uploaded on the Ofcom website.

Dec07_02:
JH to write to all international carriers regarding their plans to open international access to 0871 and 0844.

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