http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nts_focus/notes/nts_300409

NTS Focus Group – 30th April 2009 – 2.00 pm Ofcom

Agenda item (1) - Introductions

Attendance:
Mike Barford      Tiscali
Geoff Brighton      Ofcom
Chris Bowley      Ofcom
Gareth Davies      Ofcom
Sean Hartley      BT
Justin Hornby      C&W (Chair)
Dirmuid Jennings      Reality
Simon Kelly      Gamma Telecom
Paul Lees      Via-Vox
Andy Martin      IV Response
Steve McGeary      Via-Vox
Sandra Reid      VirginMedia
Tanya Rofani      Ofcom
By telephone:
Richard Anderson      Colt
Catherine Gerosa      Invomo
Will Goodall      Flextel
Lesa Green      Kcom
Colin Scott      C&W
Bart van Besien      J2 Global
Apologies:
Clive Hillier      Ofcom

Agenda (2): Update / progress report on the current 'live' NTS related consultations / investigations: (Ofcom/All)

PRS review. Geoff announced that he expected the PRS review to be published in a fortnights time.

Agenda Item (3): 0870 Statement and Dispute

Discussion started with a procedural question about the amount of notice operators would be given with regards the 0870 termination rate. Dirmuid Jennings pointed out that the 0870 statement gave three months from publication of the statement or a month from the point at which the 0870 termination rates were published. Geoff Brighton indicated that Ofcom has the power to simply direct BT to include the new rates in their price list which would have the effect of a reduced notice period from BTs contractual 56 days. Geoff indicated that part of Ofcoms thinking behind this approach was to avoid the lengthy process BT often has to go through in order to get all operators to agree to new NTS rates.

Andy Martin asked about the status of the changes in light of the charge control and was informed that both areas of work were consistent.

Andy asked whether Ofcom had considered the impact of BTs pre-emptive decision to include 0870 and 0845 in discount plans ahead of the regulatory changes, especially as industry responded to Section 135 Information Requests before this change. Tanya confirmed that this had not been done although Geoff went on to say that the 0845 changes were likely to result in a change to the discount levels in the NTS formula to some extent. Andy drew Ofcoms attention to the windfall available to BT Retail as an originator should 0845 follow 0870 regulatory changes. Cath Embleton responded saying that BT would simply apply the existing formula should any changes be required. She thought that BT Retails decision regarding 0845 was likely to have been as much a reaction to commercial pressure from other OCPs as it was a reaction to the 0870 changes. Sean Hartley stated that the standard notice period would apply for any changes to 0845.

Andy suggested that BT Retails 0845 pricing decision meant that there was no longer a need for a review of 0845. Geoff indicated that Ofcom was likely to let the dust settle on 0870 before deciding later this year whether to review 0845.

Tanya provided an update on the 0870 statement which is hopefully due to be published before the end of June, although this is dependent on the comments that have been received. Sean Hartley indicated that this would be an issue for BT to issue any OCCN as BTs contractual agreements would require publication in early June in order to meet the 1st August implementation date unless BT was directed in the final statement to include the prices in the Carrier Price List. Dirmuid suggested that more notice was likely to be required and Geoff responded saying that one possibility may be to delay implementation, should it be required.

Agenda Item (4): NCCN 908

Sean reported that bilateral discussions regarding NCCN908 were continuing. He also confirmed to Andy that prices would have to change again post the 0870 changes on 1st August.

Agenda Item (5): Call Trapping (All)

Sean gave indicative costs of 2m to implement call trapping purely for the 0845 and 0870 number ranges. BT arrived at the figure having looked at the implications to call routeing, IN capacity, provisioning, processing and signalling capacity. They did not consider traffic which leaves BTs network at the DLE level. It was anticipated that final costs were likely to be higher and implementation timescales were expected to be 8 10 weeks.

Sean confirmed to Cable&Wireless that a response to their SoR would be sent next week.

...

Thanks idb for updating us on the activities of this shadowy telecoms industry grouping.

I see that the members of this group, including the representatives from Ofcom, continue to remain as focused as ever on ensuring that ordinary members of the general public always know what they will pay for a phone call before they make one.

Just out of interest I don't suppose that anyone here knows what the AIT process that they refer to in the minutes actually is?

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Oct 12^th, 2009 at 10:10am:


So the NTS scammers are also scamming each other as well as their retail customers it appears?  No wonder they now have to resort to an acronym to cover up what are they really getting up to.