Terms of Reference
Background
Oftel has taken account of the views of respondents to its July
1998 Consultative Document, entitled Developing Number Administration,
and the House of Commons’ Select Committee on Trade and Industry
which held an inquiry into telephone numbering and published its
report on 10 February 1999.
In his published
Statement of May 1999, entitled Developing Numbering Administration
and Freephone Numbering, the Director General of Telecommunications
announced that "Oftel is to replace the Numbering Advisory Group
with a broader Numbering Forum comprising all those expressing an
interest in numbering issues".
Purpose
The purpose of the Numbering Forum is to increase the transparency
of developing numbering policy and to enable any interested parties
to express their views and contribute more effectively to the consultative
process for UK numbering policy.
Objectives
- To facilitate
live debate on current numbering issues.
- To provide
a platform to inform Oftel of the implications of numbering issues
for consumers, operators and other interested parties.
- To enable Oftel
to consult interested parties more effectively and to promote
widespread and more effective contributions from interested parties
to the policy-making process.
- To disseminate
numbering related information to interested parties on policy
developments at international, EC or UK Government levels.
In all of these
objectives the Numbering Forum does not itself take formal decisions
on matters of policy.
Representation
Anyone with an interest in numbering issues will be eligible
to attend the Numbering Forum. Restrictions on attendance will only
apply in respect of the limitations of accommodation in which case
‘first come, first served’ will apply and restrictions
may be placed on the number of representatives from the same organisation.
Chairmanship
The Numbering Forum will be chaired by Oftel.
Communications
Notice of meetings, agendas, documents for discussion and meeting
notes will be available through Oftel’s 'Numbering Groups'
web page.
Other Groups
The activities of the Numbering Forum may be supplemented on
detailed issues by a Numbering Experts Panel and ad hoc Working
Groups.
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