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Author Topic: The relationship between OFCOM and the Govennment in preventing competition  (Read 2484 times)
Project Novo
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« on: June 12, 2008, 08:57:30 am »

Dear all

It appears that the reason for there never going to be a competitive telecommunications market in Hull is due to the fact that OUR Government does not have the POWER to ask its own Home Office Department to force another Government Department (OFCOM) that we pay OUR taxes for, to carry out the work it was set up to do.

According to the PM's office, my petition to force OFCOM to comply with its reasons for existance and ensure a competitive telecommunications market for the people and businesses of Hull is OUTSIDE the UK Governnments own remit of power !!!!!!!!!!!!

Question - Why could OFCOM force transparent local loop pricing on BT but is unwilling to force this on KCOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We should therefore take this matter as a community to the EU and me for one will ensure that this happens.

Please pass the following on to as as many people as you can. The greater the publicity the better.     

THIS IS SERIOUS. IF NOTHING IS DONE HULL WILL HAVE NO DECENT TELECOMMS INFRASTRUTURE AND WILL GET LEFT BEHIND   

Project Novo

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT THAT I RECEIVED BACK FROM RE THE SUBMISSION OF MY E-PETITION TO 10 DOWNING STREET:

       
Hi, I'm sorry to inform you that your petition has been rejected. Your petition was classed as being in the following categories: * Outside the remit or powers of the Prime Minister andGovernment

If you wish to edit and resubmit your petition, please followthe following link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OfcomHull/EJASSWABMSsoBRglRTADpkd You have four weeks in which to do this, after which yourpetition will appear in the list of rejected petitions. Your petition reads: We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to:

'Force OFCOMto Comply with its obligations in ensuring a competitiveTelecommunications Market for Hull by forcing KingstonCommunications to publish full LLU pricing' Ofcom has constistantly failed in its terms of reference andobligations in ensuring that the conditions for competition inthe provision of electronic communication services exist withinthe Kingston upon Hull 01482 dialling code area under section3b of the Telecommunications Act of 2003 detailed as "Ofcomsstatutory obligations"This petition is force Ofcom into complying with itsobligations and as Ofcom did with BT, force KingstonCommunications (KCOM) to publish full Local Loop (LLU) pricingso that other Operators (OLO's) can then make their owncommercially based decision whether or not to enter the market. Should Ofcom fail to act, we the undersigned, call for theabolition of Ofcom as the regulatory body overseeing the UKtelecommunications market.

-- the ePetitions team

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dylan
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« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2008, 10:18:38 am »

It's totally ridiculous. Why would the government not force Ofcom to undertake the work it is mandated to do!
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« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2008, 12:41:36 pm »

So ofcom are failing to regulate the industry and therefore consumers (that’s voters and tax payers) are losing out and our elected government is claiming they cannot intervene.......? Huh?

What a farce!  Angry

Well I'll be writing to my MP and MEP about this matter; I recommend everyone else does the same.
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Hobbisbang
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« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2008, 09:01:05 pm »

Well I for one think this is nothing more than a total outrage!!!

OFCom are supposed to be there to defend the average Jo but from what I have seen in the EU and other trade incidents OFCom are a waist of money excluding the
http://www.ofcomconsumerpanel.org.uk/

As they seam to have a better understanding of the world and have a self loathing complex!!!
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Project Novo
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« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2008, 03:29:38 pm »

Please see the attached:

Dear Diana Johnson,

RE: The Kingston Communications Hull (KCOM) Telecommunications Monoopoly

I recently submitted a petition to 10 Downing Street in relation to forcing OFCOM to carry out its statutory obligations, under its own terms of reference for existing as a Govenment Quango, in order to ensure a competititive telecommunications market for Hull.   

From the response I received back from 10 Downing Sreet it is apparent that the UK Government is unable (or unwilling) to force OFCOM to comply with its obligation. A response I find staggering beyond belief.     

It appears that the reason for there never going to be a competitive telecommunications market in Hull is due to the fact that my Government does not have the power to ask its own Home Office Department to force another Government Department (OFCOM) that I pay my taxes for, to carry out the work it was set up to do.

According to the PM's office, my petition to force OFCOM to comply with its reasons for existance and ensure a competitive telecommunications market for the people and businesses of Hull is OUTSIDE !!! the UK Governnments own remit of power!

As my MP, I therefore ask you to make the neccessary enquiries as to:

1 - Why the petition was rejected?
2 - Why has OFCOM not forced Kingston Communiations (HULL) to    produce full local loop disclosure pricing, as it has previously forced BT (Openreach) to provide, in order to assist other licensed operators in making commercial decisions whether or not to enter the Hull 01482 market in the provision of electronic communication services.     

As a constituant,  I ask you to raise raise question 2 directly to the Prime Minister at Prime Ministers question  time. 

I have previous experience of OFCOM's lack of interest, negligence and involvent in addressing the Hull situation having had previous dealings with them and believe that colusion between OFCOM and KCOM (and now GOVERNMENT )in mainatining the current monopoly to be in existance.           

I represent the interests of many local businesses and residents who are completey fed up with the current status quo  in the fact that Hull people subsidise the loss making national KCOM business and see no benefit in terms of competitive pricing, service bundeling and modern up to date 21st Century services.

Having consulted for a number of companys the main primia facia reason companies state for not investing in the city is that they cannot receive the same services they receive in other major UK metropolitan areas as well at the exhorbitant price of symmetrical Internet access. 

 
I also belive KCOM to be acting illegally in the provision of offering certain Hull businesses bespoke service pricing and in offering various degrees of service levels,randomly discriminating to the detriment of the smaller business, undercutting the regulated book price for services to prevent any competition, even where they have been deemed by OFCOM to have significant market power.     

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT THAT I RECEIVED BACK FROM RE THE SUBMISSION OF MY E-PETITION TO 10 DOWNING STREET:

       
Hi, I'm sorry to inform you that your petition has been rejected. Your petition was classed as being in the following categories: * Outside the remit or powers of the Prime Minister andGovernment

If you wish to edit and resubmit your petition, please followthe following link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OfcomHull/EJASSWABMSsoBRglRTADpkd You have four weeks in which to do this, after which yourpetition will appear in the list of rejected petitions. Your petition reads: We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to:

'Force OFCOMto Comply with its obligations in ensuring a competitiveTelecommunications Market for Hull by forcing KingstonCommunications to publish full LLU pricing' Ofcom has constistantly failed in its terms of reference andobligations in ensuring that the conditions for competition inthe provision of electronic communication services exist withinthe Kingston upon Hull 01482 dialling code area under section3b of the Telecommunications Act of 2003 detailed as "Ofcomsstatutory obligations"This petition is force Ofcom into complying with itsobligations and as Ofcom did with BT, force KingstonCommunications (KCOM) to publish full Local Loop (LLU) pricingso that other Operators (OLO's) can then make their owncommercially based decision whether or not to enter the market. Should Ofcom fail to act, we the undersigned, call for theabolition of Ofcom as the regulatory body overseeing the UKtelecommunications market.

-- the ePetitions team


I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Pennington
Telecommunications Consultant
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dylan
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« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2008, 04:28:56 pm »

Nice email Smiley Please do post back with Diana Johnson's reply. I think that the most important thing is to get an official to admit, in writing, that Ofcom isn't meeting its obligations.

Once that happens, hopefully that gives some leverage to force Ofcom into line. Given the content of your email I reckon that Dianna would be hard pushed to not admit Ofcom's culpability in the situation we have here.

Dyls.

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Project Novo
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« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2008, 06:17:57 pm »

AMAZINGLY THE PETITION HAS NOW BEEN APPROVED - Mysterious or what !!!!!!
 
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERY ONE AND ANYONE FOR SIGNING


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OfcomHull/

Project Novo
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dylan
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« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2008, 08:18:31 pm »

AMAZINGLY THE PETITION HAS NOW BEEN APPROVED - Mysterious or what !!!!!!
 
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERY ONE AND ANYONE FOR SIGNING


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OfcomHull/

Project Novo

LMAO - What an amazing 'coincidence'.....

I've put a link to the petition in the site header.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2008, 08:23:34 pm by Dylan » Logged

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« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2008, 11:49:37 am »

Only 18 signatures.

It's not looking good is it..
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Aardie
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« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2008, 11:27:01 am »

We gotta get family members involved I mean its only a 3 minute sign up eh, going to get my wife to sign it as well as mother sister etc etc
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Project Novo
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« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2008, 05:19:21 pm »


Dear all

Please can people forward any comments from ISP's as to what are their  reasons for not seeking to enter the Hull Market? - I will be able to put these to good use !!!!!!!   

Please do not forget  to pass on details about the petition. We need to have at least 10,000 signatures before the petition runs out.

I strongly believe and evidence that suggests that KCOM and OFCOM are in colloboration in ensuring the Hull Broadband Monopoly continues.

How can OFCOM state that under their ofsight that KCOM have SMP in the provision of broadband services in Hull and sit there an do nothing about it.

The piece in the Hull Daily is an elaborate side step of the main issue which is local loop unbundelling. KCOM / OFCOM are trying to skirt round ths issue and are trying to "muddle" the terms. KCOM's wholesale pricing WILL not help deliver  ANY competition and it was only reduced due to the fact that KCOM's largest customer in Hull was going to take them to task if they failed to reduce the wholesale IP price of "IP Line" for its own consumer applications. KCOM still receive a line rental and still own the line.

Cable and Wireless have a very strong relationship with KCOM Hull - C and W carry approximately 50% of KCOM's call traffic out of Hull so we can discount their comments. BT also carry a great deal of traffic. BT will NEVER enter the Hull market as OFCOM will rule that being unfair on KCOM.

Also, by giving the impression that KCOM's network is not up scratch is also detrimental to any potential competion. KCOM's network MUST be fit for purpose for any other operator seeking to use its local loop. Thats why LLU must be forced on KCOM. KCOM are delibrately not investing in the network since they KNOW that OFCOM WILL NOT FORCE LLU on them which is to the detriment of us all residents and busineeses in the City and we will fall behind.

KCOM cannot afford to upgrade the network in Hull since all OUR money goes to subside its national loss making business. Also, another reason for keeping the monopoly is that if the monopoly is broken KCOM is DEAD.

Colusion exists  between OFCOM and KCOM - BELIEVE YOU ME.

There are many illegal KCOM business contracts out there as well benefiting a few larger businesses. 
 
WE have to help instigate the changes.


Project Novo
 


 
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Project Novo
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« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2008, 09:53:56 am »

WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF OFCOM?

It is Part 1 - covering Sections 1-31 - of the Communications Act that describe the functions of Ofcom.

Section 3 (1) of the Act provides Ofcom with two broad, over-arching functions when it states:
"It shall be the principal duty of OFCOM, in carrying out their functions-
(a) to further the interests of citizens in relation to communications matters; and
(b) to further the interests of consumers in relevant markets, where appropriate by promoting competition".

There are some interesting issues here.

First, this duality of the interests of citizens and consumers respectively counterpoises interests which are not necessarily coincident or even congruent. They may well diverge or conflict and there is no mechanism in the Act for reconciling them.

Second, it is not clear when the promotion of competition would or would not be appropriate in furthering the interests of consumers. Indeed it might be that the issue is more complex and is not simply a matter of promoting competition of itself but of promoting a particular form of competition to achieve a particular objective.

PRINCIPAL DUTY !!!!!!
However, I fail to see how Ofcom are powerless to act in accordance with its own terms and conditions, regardless of the fact that no one has yet categoricaly stated publically that they wish to enter the Hull market  - In my opinion promoting competition is about creating the right conditions for competition of which forcing KCOM to publish full local loop pricing is PARAMOUNT.

What alternative provider in their right mind would ever consider entering the city without full undisclosed pricing - its like selling a product without knowing what your buy price is !!!!

How can OFCOM continue not to enforce full undisclosed LLU pricing on KCOM - its farcical

I have direct experience in dealing with Ofcom in relation to KCOM. If you want to use the KCOM network , in otherwise buy a service from them all Ofcom say is that "KCOM must all you "REASONABLE" access to its network


WHAT WE NEED IS A STATEMENT FROM OFCOM AS TO WHY THEY WILL NOT FORCE KCOM TO PUBLISH FULL LOCAL LOOP UNBUNDELING PRICING

Project Novo
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Project Novo
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« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2008, 10:05:42 am »

More cannon foda

http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/Ofcom.html
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