TERMS OF REFERENCE

Working Group Objective
To advise Oftel on policy relating to the rights, obligations and conditions to be associated with telephone numbers in all ranges.

Background
In the consultative document Developing Number Administration published in July 1998, Oftel made proposals for the rights, conditions and obligations to be associated with the introduction of individual number allocations, such as rules on the trading of numbers. In February 1999, the Trade and Industry Select Committee in its inquiry into telephone numbering stated: "it is surprising that the ownership of numbers should be undefined"; "most importantly, legislation to clarify the ownership of telephone numbers is over-due".  In the Statement Developing Numbering Administration and Freephone Numbers published on 13 May 1999, Oftel concluded that:

• the consultation and the Committee’s report had confirmed that the rights and obligations in respect of numbers should be clarified;
• number trading should be permitted but with safeguards to reduce hoarding and speculative use; and
• a period of informal consultation would take place including a Working Group set up to consider the Rights and Obligations of use for holders of allocations for all number ranges.

The informal consultation will lead to a more formal consultation/ progress report early in the year 2000. In setting up the Groups, Oftel’s aims are:

• to provide greater transparency of policy making;
• to obtain the views of users, service providers and equipment suppliers; and
• to enable a consensus on issues to develop between the major interest groups where practical.

Means of Operation
Oftel working papers on the development of policy on the Rights and Obligations of use will be posted on Oftel’s web- page. Comments on these papers will be invited through written responses and discussions at the Working Group.

Members of Group will be expected to participate actively in its work and should be prepared to provide papers and other information to assist meetings.

Oftel will present key issues arising out of the working papers and responses to the Group for discussion. The Group may decide to ask members to produce papers or provide information for future discussion/comment. Outputs from the Group will normally be posted on Oftel’s web- page.

Oftel expects that the Group will meet up to five times between September 1999 and February 2000.

Chairman and Secretary
The chairman will be appointed by Oftel. Oftel will provide the Secretariat functions.

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