Oftel Forum discusses new European Directives

As implementation of the new European directives approaches, Oftel has played host to over 40 representatives of communications companies and their customers to discuss issues raised by the new legislation.

The agenda of the third Oftel Forum, held at Oftel on 25 April, was focused on the new European directives which will be implemented in July 2003. Oftel's project team outlined the structure of the new regime and the work which national regulatory authorities will be required to complete over the course of the next 15 months (see Oftel News 54).

Delegates were invited to consider how Oftel should approach implementation and what is the appropriate balance between intervention, to protect customers and prevent anti-competitive behaviour, and deregulation, to encourage innovation and investment. A series of open questions was circulated to delegates several days before the meeting to enable participants to consider the issues in advance.

The forum is held quarterly at Oftel's offices. Each meeting is attended by providers of communications services. Representatives of user groups are also welcomed to alternate meetings every six months. The forum provides an opportunity for users and providers of services to debate with Oftel and each other the key issues for communications regulation, often in advance of more formal written consultation.

The minutes of the Forum meetings, and a list of delegates, is published on Oftel's website.

Attendance is by invitation. Oftel is keen to establish a core of regular attendees who can build on their knowledge and understanding, allowing the forum to address complex areas of regulation. The forum is intended for companies which provide communications services and organisations which represent consumer and business users of such services. General consumer and business organisations are also very welcome.

Groups which wish to participate should contact the secretary to the Forum, Julia Bradford (tel: 020 7634 8838 / e-mail: julia.bradford@oftel.gov.uk).