Ofcom is issuing a modified Direction under Section 49 of the Communications Act 2003 and General Condition 21, requiring specified Communications Providers which provide Publicly Available Telephone Services over a Public Telephone Network at a fixed location to provide quality of service information. The Direction is modified as follows:
The period by which measurements should commence has been modified to allow for the necessary testing of the robustness of data systems and data collection processes to ensure that the requirements of the Direction will be satisfied. The extension in the timeline could also be used to test the functionality and user friendliness of the independent website before the public launch.
Those Communications Providers covered by the existing Direction are obliged to continue with data collection and preparation. Any provider who is unable to demonstrate that its processes and procedures will be able to deliver to the agreed timescale, may be subject to formal investigation by Ofcom.
User testing on the accessibility and user friendliness of the publication will be an integral part of the development of the initiative. In addition, Ofcom will continue to monitor consumer attitudes and behaviour with respect to QoS information. Towards the end of the year we will undertake a review of End-User satisfaction with the QoS published information, including how it is used and valued by residential and business consumers. Ofcom will also monitor how the needs of vulnerable consumers are being met.