Private Business Systems

I gave a presentation to the Spectrum Management Advisory Group in September informing them of the project and its implications (the slides I used for this can be made available on request - please email me). This was well received and it has been fed back to me that they would be interested in sponsoring any consultations that may arise during the course of the project.

The expanded Industry Working Group, which now includes FEI/FCS members as well as BG Transco, has continued to meet regularly and is making good progress with a very helpful, professional and constructive working atmosphere. The main thrust of the work has been on working with DTI Economics and Statistics Division in order to produce a questionnaire to be sent to licensees so as to be able to assess the implications for customers of the changes and the likely future scenario. This work is nearing maturity and the questionnaire should be ready for issue before the end of the year, being piloted first within the IWG membership. Initially we are aiming to send it out to a large number of the customers in the band, on the assumption that the response rate is likely to be relatively small. On assessing the replies we hope that we can identify particularly useful contributions and the target these respondees in much more detail in a focussed campaign in a second phase, possibly using a consultancy to conduct face to face interviews. At the last meeting in early October, the group decided that the small number of large customers (which we defined as those having more than 250 mobiles or with a system value of more than £100000) would be contacted separately and would thus not be part of the initial questionnaire campaign.

The economic framework which has been developed by Agency economists has showed a relatively small positive benefit to the UK economy in undertaking the realignment, however the underlying assumptions require validation.

Telephone queries from customers and interested parties about the implications of the project continue.