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NTS Focus Group - 27th October 2005 (Read 4,361 times)
idb
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NTS Focus Group - 27th October 2005
Mar 15th, 2006 at 1:57pm
 
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nts_focus/notes/nts27oct05

Meeting Notes & Actions
Agenda item (1) - Introductions
Attendance:
Colin Scott
THUS (Chair)

Dave Bratt
MCI

Marcus Rudkin
Band-X

Durmuid Jennings
Reality Telecom

Richard Anderson
COLT

Gareth Davies
Ofcom

Geoff Brighton
Ofcom

Clive Hillier
Ofcom

Nic Green
Ofcom

Liz Greenberg
Ofcom

Karen Wray
C&W

Dave Simpson
Easynet

Anne McCardle
MCI

Andy Martin
IV Response

Toby Higho
Centrica

Kath Embleton
BT

Andrew Wileman
Telewest

Helen Morgan
Energis

Nancy Saunders
Kingston

Mark Amoss
BT

Alex Cheetham
BT

Colin Annette
BT

Julian Wootten
BT

Nick Dixon
Kingston

Sarajane Amey
NTL

Debbie Mulloy
NTL

Dominic Carney
YourCommunications

Mike Barford
Tiscali


Agenda (2): Q&A on the three current NTS PRS related consultations/statement (Ofcom)
Geoff Brighton said that Ofcom didn’t have anything to add to the consultation documents already published, however Ofcom were happy to take any questions.

Dave Simpson asked how open the debate was. How much was left to be decided?

Geoff Brighton said that all consultations are open and that Ofcom will consider the views expressed by all sides.

Nancy Saunders asked how Ofcom would stop originators revenue sharing on calls which they both originated and terminated.

Gareth Davies said that Ofcom probably wouldn’t look at this area. Nancy added that given BT originate and terminate a large proportion of calls they could continue to offer a revenue share.

Colin Annette said that this would probably raise cross subsidy issues and would be adequately covered by existing provisions. Gareth Davies agreed.

Durmuid Jennings asked when the numbering policy review would be completed. Helen Morgan added that it would be helpful if Ofcom provided a co-ordinated overall plan as clarity was required over issues relating to the General Conditions, ICSTIS and numbering.

Gareth Davies said that Ofcom should be in a position to give more detail of the impact of the numbering review on the NTS policy review by the time it published the statement.

Alex Cheetham asked if Ofcom planned to do a further consultation on the proposals for 0870 (on the removal of revenue share and the re-linkage to geographic pricing).

Gareth Davies said if Ofcom proceeded as proposed, further statutory consultations would be required to re-establish the linkage between 0870 call charges and geographic call charges, extend PRS regulation and remove 0870 from the scope of the NTS Call Origination Condition.

Andrew Wileman said the document mentioned the issue of who was responsible for transit charging, however it didn’t propose a way forward. When did Ofcom expect that debate to occur?

Geoff Brighton said that Ofcom had expressed a view in the consultation, however since the present arrangements were not subject to any regulation Ofcom considered that the issue should be dealt with through contractual agreement by operators.

Colin Annette said he expected negotiations to happen on both transit and termination payments during the one year interim period. Andrew asked if BT anticipated the negotiations occurring on a bi-lateral or multi-lateral basis. Colin said he expected discussions on transit and termination to be both bi-lateral and multi-lateral.

Andy Martin asked if Ofcom had received any consumer responses. Clive Hillier said that over 100 consumer responses had been received, many prompted by the Say no to 0870 campaign.

Andy Martin asked if any mobile operators had responded. Clive said Ofcom had not received any industry responses so far.

Colin Scott asked Ofcom why it had not consulted with any mobile operators prior to the consultation being published when NTS calls from mobiles had been identified as a major cause of consumer concern. Geoff Brighton said that no mobile providers had approached Ofcom and that Ofcom had consulted with many stakeholders prior to publication. Nancy Saunders said that Ofcom had sought out the views of other stakeholders. Andy Martin said that a discussion with the mobiles was very important.

Geoff Brighton said that with hindsight it might have been better to approach the mobile providers.

Toby Higho asked if Ofcom had conducted any analysis on the comparisons between 0844/0871 and 0845/0870?

Clive Hillier said that some comparisons had already been published, however more would be shared soon when the additional consumer research is published.

Colin Annette asked if the Ofcom Consumer Panel had given any feedback. Gareth Davies said that the Consumer Panel would be submitting a response. Geoff Brighton said he had also met with the Advisory Committee for England (ACE) which, in addition to the Consumer Panel , provide advice to the Ofcom Board on consumer issues. This group were generally supportive of Ofcom’s proposals but remained concerned about ‘locked-in’ services where consumers have little choice in making NTS calls.

Nancy Saunders said the consultation failed to consider the many other methods of communication available, including email and post. Very few consumers were truly locked in.

...
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Re: NTS Focus Group - 27th October 2005
Reply #1 - Mar 15th, 2006 at 1:58pm
 
...

Nancy Saunders asked if Ofcom had considered if the full ICSTIS code of practice would be used for 08 or if an ICSTIS lite-code would be more appropriate.

Clive Hillier said ICSTIS were mulling over that very issue and further discussions were required.

Karen Wray said Ofcom must have a view of what sort of regulation should apply (given Ofcom proposed the remedy in the first place).

Gareth Davies said that some areas of the code of practice were appropriate, but a further separate consultation would be conducted.

Karen Wray said that there was a danger that ICSTIS could get side tracked doing the trivial administration, rather than tracking the key issues.

Agenda item (3): Update on the NTS market review/NCCN 500 investigation (Ofcom)

Gareth Davies said that the position hadn’t changed since the last meeting and Ofcom hadn’t yet reached a decision on whether to issue a statement of objections. This decision was expected to be taken in early December. Once this decision has been taken Ofcom could progress with the market review.

Karen Wray said the issue was key to responding to the policy consultation. Gareth Davies said in an ideal world the decision wouldn’t have been made prior to the consultation closing, however this wasn’t possible.

Andrew Wileman asked what the linkage was. Gareth Davies said that one was forward looking, the other retrospective, however both the market review and the Competition Act are clearly dealing with closely related issues.

Debbie Mulloy asked what the delay in publication was caused by. First the decision was expected to be published in August, then November, now December.

Gareth Davies said Ofcom understood the frustration but this was a complex issue. Debbie asked if much of the work carried out on the market review could not be used in the NCCN 500 investigation. Gareth Davies said this work was done in a different context and it would be inappropriate to publish a market review that second guessed the out come of the investigation.

Alex Cheetham asked if the market review was likely to be finalised before Christmas. Gareth Davies said the review would be completed as soon as possible.

Agenda Item (4) – Introduction to Ofcom’s impending review of Numbering Policy and possible implications for the NTS timetable. (Ofcom)

Nic Green and Liz Greenberg gave an overview of the Numbering Policy Review:

Set out a strategic framework
meet demand for numbers & restore consumer trust in the numbering plan
how best to achieve these now and in the future, in context of technology and market changes eg fixed-mobile convergence, VoIP, growth of NTS / PRS
doing similar things: addressing more immediate issues within new framework
meeting demand for geographic numbers
prefer tighter demand management, given low utilisation; enhance forecasting and reclamation, allocate smaller blocks where needed
best option where demand management insufficient? Overlay codes?
Non-geographic restructuring to restore trust/transparency/stability of ranges
eg some services identified at 2 not 3 digit level eg 084 not 0844/0845?
consider weighting of criteria eg charges, business models, content
include personal numbering
clarify service definitions so consumers know what to expect
options for timing of migration from current plan, and whether forced
recognise interactions with NTS – a way forward

new processes to better deliver on strategic objectives
consumer protection test for number allocation
much driven by PRS but could apply more broadly
legal tests to be met – including non-discrimination – but believe the basis exists
practical workability, given sub-allocations
reclaiming allocations is in scope
potential for the market to deliver better than administrative allocation?
manage scarcity by influencing decisions on obtaining numbering resource and continued possession of it – incentivise efficient use
best form of charging structure eg initial fee plus annual charge?
viability of consumer protection test in a number trading environment
potential to allocate numbers directly to consumers
A separate briefing note will be circulated to NTS FG members.

Durmuid Jennings said the issue wasn’t about a scarcity of numbers (you just need to add a digit), but number management.

Dominic Carney said that Ofcom may need to consider if it is wise to issue a consultation that proposes market mechanisms for the allocation of numbers as this may prompt a stampede, particularly for central business district numbers.

Nic Green said the Communication Act had already raised the possibility of charging for numbers. Liz Greenberg said that if charging were introduced it might be on an ongoing rental as well as application basis which may help manage demand.

Colin Annette said that Ofcom’s proposed timetable seemed ambitious, with only six weeks allocated to consider a very complex issue and then issue a statement.

...
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Re: NTS Focus Group - 27th October 2005
Reply #2 - Mar 15th, 2006 at 1:59pm
 
...

Nic Green said that Ofcom would seek views prior to the consultation closing so that as much work as possible could be done in advance. It was better to set a tight deadline. Nancy Saunders  commented on whether the statement would resolve all of the NTS issues. Nic Green said that the plan was to resolve as many of those issues as possible, prioritising those specifically covered by the NTS review.  Nic Green and Clive Hillier confirmed that the timing of the two projects would also be co-ordinated.

Agenda Item (5) – INCA/CLI Update

Mark Amoss said that OCCNs containing the 1 st of December 2005 pricing had now been issued and should have been returned to BT by the 21 st of October.

Debbie Mulloy asked why BT needed them back so soon. Mark said there was a considerable about of implementation work required.

Julian Wootten said that BT had released a series of industry notifications on INCA/ CLI implementation (the URL to access them is also listed below):

05002    NTS Review Workshop 7th February.

05057    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - EBC Sample Data.

05063    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - CP Solution Guide Issue 1 

05064    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - Update on Development Timescales

05070    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - Update on Surcharge

05071    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - EBC Test Data & Transit Sample Data

05080    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - Launch Notification

05081    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - Transit Test Data

05082    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - CP Solution Guide issue 1.1

05084    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - DEDS Registration

05091    INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - DEDS Registration Update (includes FAQs)

05093     INCA/ CLI for NTS Interconnection Charging - EBC Charging Reference Data

BT Wholesale

Julian invited questions on the implementation.

Dave Simpson asked why DEDS had to utilise an ISDN line. Julian said ISDN supported all the necessary security.

Julian said the EBC files would be made available on DEDS on the 17 th of November and the transit files on or after the 1 st of January. If CPs experience any problems they are to contact the EBC Helpline (contact details for this can be found on the interconnect notifications relating to INCA/ CLI ). A FAQ had been produced and was embedded in notification 05091.

Richard Anderson asked if the NTS levy was applicable from the 1 st of April 2006 . Mark Amoss said that it was applicable from 1 st December 2005 and would be billed every quarter in arrears from the 1 st of April 2006 . (The first bill would cover the period 1 st Dec ‘05 to 31 st March ’06 ).

Andrew Wileman asked about BT’s proposals for updating the CPL . Mark Amoss confirmed that CPL section 1.0.2.1 would cease to be updated after the 1 st of January 2007 and a new pricing table would be put into CPL section 1.0.2.3. This would have A and B sections, with section A containing generic pricing and section B would list operators who hadn’t signed. Section 1.12 would still contain all the numbers split out.

Mark Amoss asked FG members to consider if the rates in the CPL should only apply from the date the letter was signed, not the effective date on the letter (as is current practice).

New Action #W/1: All FG members to consider if the rates in the CPL should only be applied from the date the letter was signed, not the effective date on the letter (as is current practice).

Agenda Item (6) – Review of remaining outstanding actions

Mike Barford provided an update on action #T/1 - to establish an NTS FG working group with the aim of resolving the NGNP issue. Mike said that meeting to discuss the issue in more detail would be arranged for November / December. If any CP wanted to be involved they should email Mike Barford (Action #T/1 Carried Forward)

# V/1:
BT to consider how they show payments to operators who haven’t signed up to the pricing in section 1.02.3.


Closed – see agenda item 5

# V/2:
BT to consider how to amend section 1.12 to show the effective charging date for transit calls instead of the Pricing Letter effective date.


Closed – See Agenda Item 5


Agenda item (7) – Any Other Business
Colin Scott said it was his intention to stand down as chair of the FG and Andrew Wileman had kindly volunteered to chair the group.

Date of Next Meeting:
Thursday 8th December– 2.00pm Ofcom – Riverside House, London
Agreed NTS FG Meeting Dates for 2006:

18 th January (Wednesday)
17 th August

2 nd March
28 th September

11 th April (Tuesday)
9 th November

25 th May
14 th December

6 th July
   


Summary of New and Outstanding Actions:
# T/1:
Mike Barford to establish an NTS FG working group with the aim of resolving the NGNP issue

# W/1:
All FG members to consider if the rates in the CPL should only be applied from the date the letter was signed, not the effective date on the letter (as is current practice).

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