Terms of Reference Directory Enquiries (DQ) Billing and Interconnection Sub-Group

Responsibilities

• This Group is a Sub-Group of the Directory Enquiries Implementation Working Group.

• In its September 2001 Statement, Oftel outlined its expectations that the industry would come to equitable arrangements that will allow access to all new 118XX(X) DQ services on all networks.

• This Sub-Group will act as the Industry forum for discussion of commercial terms for billing and interconnection to support the new 118XX(X) DQ codes in accordance with the framework outlined in Oftel’s September 2001 Statement. These discussions will be subject to issues of commercial confidentiality which will be addressed bilaterally between network operators and service providers.

• The Sub-Group will advise the Director General of Telecommunications (‘the Director’) as to any Industry-preferred arrangements for billing and interconnection. The advice and activities of this Sub-Group will not fetter the Director’s discretion to take further steps if necessary if the Industry is unable to reach the appropriate agreements.

• This Sub-Group will identify any material consumer-affecting issues that arise relating to billing and interconnection to the Working Group, in order that the Working Group may seek the views of consumer representatives, in the first instance through the DQ Consumer Issues sub-group or directly as necessary.

Membership

• The Sub-Group will be open to Oftel, representatives of Annex 2 operators and representatives of all organisations considering providing a full (business and residential) national Directory Enquires Service and/or an International Directory Enquiries Service using a 118XX(X) code.

• Participation will be limited to at most two representatives from any organisation at any meeting. Participants are encouraged to send one representative only if at all possible in the interests of meeting efficiency. Extra participants from some organisations may be invited by the Group on an ad-hoc basis in the event that specialist advice is required.

Method of Working

• Meetings will be held fortnightly initially (subject to review).

• This Sub-Group will present its recommendations and estimated timings for implementation to the Implementation Working Group (and Oftel). Any such proposals will be circulated to the Sub-Group email distribution list for approval, and the Sub-Group will attempt to gain consensus for the proposal prior to submission to the Working Group. At least 1 week will be allowed for comments from Sub-Group participants. Participants that do not respond will be considered to support the proposal.

• An email distribution list will be maintained of contacts from eligible organisations who indicate they wish to be included on such a list.

• Minutes of each meeting will be produced as soon as possible after each meeting, and will be circulated by email. Minutes will be posted when agreed on Oftel’s web site.

Constitution

• The Chair will be responsible for administering and maintaining the master email distribution list for the Sub-Group, arranging Sub-Group meetings and reporting to the Implementation Working Group. The Chair will have a duty to carry out chairing functions impartially. Where the Chair also represents an interested organisation, the Chair will clearly indicate when s/he is acting in the role of Chair, and when s/he is acting on behalf of his/her organisation.

• Don Kalal of Telegate will chair the Sub-Group.

• Secretary – duty to rotate in reverse alphabetical order amongst meeting participants

Quorum

• Minimum - representatives of five different organisations, including at least one representative of a fixed network operator, one representative of a mobile network operator, one representative of a (non-network operator) service provider, and Oftel.