consultation

Ofcom give update on the release of their consultation

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

The Future of PRS Regulation, Ofcom Consultation Update

Ofcom logo

Industry had been expecting the release for the Future of PRS Regulation Ofcom Consultation, over the next few days. However, aimm has had an update from Ofcom stating that they have had to push this date back to early November, as they iron out the final details.

aimm has a series of Consultation workshops for our members in the diaries, to provide an opportunity for an exchange of views and feedback during the consultation period (which is expected to be 8 weeks).

As we look to reschedule these for the later release date there may be the opportunity for non-members to book a seat at one of our virtual online workshops, so others across industry have the chance to add their voice alongside that of the membership.

aimm will be submitting an official response to the consultation, as we do with all regulatory consultations, and the feedback we receive from across the industry value chain during these workshops helps to shape this document.

Having a seat at one of our workshops is a valuable opportunity to have your voice heard on such a pivotal regulatory milestone. If anyone is interested in finding out more about these workshops please get in contact with aimm.

 

PSA gives update on Business Plan and Budget

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

On the 27th March, the PSA provided an update on their site for their Business Plan and Budget that they initially announced to industry in December.

You can find the updates on both their consultation statement and the final document on their consultations page. They have also included all the responses received from across industry for this, which includes aimm’s response on behalf of our members.

PSA consultation on revised Special conditions for ICSS

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

PSA proposes extension of regulatory requirements to all call connection services and strengthens requirements

The Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) has opened a consultation on revised Special conditions for ICSS – third-party services that connect or signpost callers to popular helplines via a premium-rate number.

The proposals are intended to improve the information about these services that is given to consumers, both in search results and on service websites, to make it clearer that they are third parties and that calls via an ICSS may be more expensive than calling the desired number directly.

These proposals follow changes in January 2019 to extend the scope of Ofcom’s Premium Rate Service Condition to include all ICSS within the definition of controlled premium rate services. This extended PSA regulation to all ICSS irrespective of the number range they are operating on. This consultation proposes that the PSA’s Special conditions for ICSS should apply to all ICSS, regardless of number range.

The consultation is open until 10th June 2019. Respondents are advised to use the new PSA consultations response form, available from the PSA website.

REMINDER: PSA Consultation – Guidance on the retention of data

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

The PSA have put forward proposals to clarify expectations on how long providers retain data, in the event of an investigation where such data will be required. The PSA are now consulting on Guidance which sets out new expectations for the retention of data relevant to their investigatory processes, and are calling for responses.

The full consultation details can be found here.

We would like to invite members to provide their feedback to aimm in order for us to prepare a response. This will be in the form of calls, or where appropriate, conference calls, over the next few weeks.

Please let the aimm Executive know if you would like to contribute by Wednesday 20th February.

Annual licence fees for mobile operators

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

Ofcom has today set the annual licence fees that mobile operators will pay for 900 and 1800 MHZ spectrum, from 31 January 2019.

The operators use these spectrum bands to provide mobile voice and data services, using a mix of 2G, 3G and 4G technologies.

In June, Ofcom published a consultation on the proposed licence fees that should apply for these spectrum bands. Following consideration of the responses, they have concluded that the appropriate ALFs for these bands (expressed in April 2018 prices) are:

  • 1.093m per MHz of 900 MHz spectrum; and
  • £0.805m per MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum

Ofcom are also consulting on the level of annual licence fees that should apply for the 40 MHz of spectrum in the 3.4 GHz band, and 80 MHz in the 3.6 GHz band, that are licensed to UK Broadband, which is owned by Hutchison 3G UK Limited.

Ofcom have proposed that the fees for both 3.4 GHz and 3.6 GHz spectrum would be £0.358m per MHz.  The consultation runs until 11 February 2019.