Background

In the Communications White Paper, the Government called for the communications industry to develop effective codes of practices for the benefit of consumers. Additionally, the Communications Act provides for codes of practice to be established by all communications providers.

Guidelines and criteria

In response, communications providers, consumer groups and Oftel have established a set of guidelines for the production of codes of practice. These guidelines provide both a template on which communications providers can base their codes of practice and an explanation of how Oftel will assess and approve codes of practice.

Click here for the guidelines and criteria for codes of practice.

Who has to produce codes of practice?

Under the new general conditions, all public communications providers have to produce codes of practice for residential consumers and small businesses (see guidelines for definition of small businesses). Those communications providers with neither type of customer are not required to have codes of practice.

Submitting codes of practice for approval

The new regulatory regime came into force on 25 July 2003. However, Oftel recognises that prior to that date, there was uncertainty regarding the timing of the Communications Bill's passage through Parliament. Therefore, Oftel is extending the deadline for codes of practice to be submitted for approval to 30 September 2003. This deadline is also consistent with the deadline for the submission of applications for approval of dispute procedures.

Where possible, Oftel will provide an initial assessment of codes of practice within one month of receiving them.

The draft codes of practice, covering letters and any queries should be directed to:

David Parsons
Oftel
50 Ludgate Hill
London
EC4M 7JJ

e-mail: david.parsons@oftel.gov.uk
telephone: 020 7634 8746