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This document is the Charge Control Compliance Standard as referred to at:

• Condition MA6 of the SMP Conditions imposed pursuant to the statement on mobile call termination of 27 March 2007 and as amended by the statement of 18 December 2007 (the “Mobile Charge Control”).

This summary does not form part of the requirements of the Charge Control Compliance Standard. For ease of reference the Charge Control Compliance Standard is referred to as “the Standard” for the rest of this document. The requirements of the Standard begin at Section 2.

Summary

1.1 We set out in the Standard the detailed requirements for preparation of information and documentation required in order to demonstrate compliance with the relevant charge controls.

1.2 Charge controls provide a remedy to protect consumers and promote competition in markets which are not operating effectively. Part of the effectiveness of such remedies is the ability to monitor compliance with the obligations imposed.

1.3 Ofcom identified three key elements of a framework for monitoring:

• the information content of the Ofcom Data Submission and the Published Information Summary;
• the transparency provided through publication; and
• the assurance over the integrity of the information contained in Published Information Summary.

1.4 The Standard is divided into requirements which are of general application across different charge controls and requirements for specific charge controls. At present however the Standard applies only to the Mobile Charge Control. It is anticipated that the general requirements will apply in future to other charge controls. The potential inclusion of further charge controls may however lead to amendments to the general requirements.

1.5 In Section 3, we set out the criteria for the preparation, by Dominant Providers, of the Ofcom Data Submission, Published Information Summary and the Statement of Methodology.

1.6 It is for Dominant Providers to determine how much and what quality of information they need to provide in order to demonstrate compliance with their obligations.

1.7 We require the Published Information Summary to be subject to independent assurance. It is for the Independent Accountant to use its expertise and judgement to plan and carry out the assurance engagement in order to produce an Independent Assurance Report which meets our requirements.

1.8 We have explained the factors that influence Ofcom’s decisions in respect of compliance with price controls by a Dominant Provider in order to help Dominant Providers and Independent Accountants make appropriate judgements regarding materiality.

1.9 Finally, we set out in the Annexes the required form of the Directors’ Statement of Responsibilities and proformas for the Ofcom Data Submission, Published Information Summary and the Independent Assurance Report.

• The Charge Control Compliance Standard [pdf]
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