Category: Regulation
Ofcom updates telecoms complaint data for major providers
Ofcom is carrying out its job of focusing on the big picture with the latest batch of complaints data, that covers only the largest providers. Alas the focus on the large providers only helps to focus attention on them, leaving us to guess whether small providers are better or not.
Lobbying body calls for Broadband Universal Service Obligation
The Country Land and Business Association has called for the Government to make the 2 Mbps USC a legal obligation, rather than the proposed easier to get out of commitment.
Speculative invoicing scheme coming to customers of O2 and Be
Copyright holder has applied for a court order to reveal the account holder behind some 9,000 IP addresses that belong to O2 and Be customers. If the order is granted the customers may well get a letter asking for £700 to settle an alleged copyright infringement scheme.
Five major studios allege Hotfile’s business is unlawful file distribution
With Megaupload shutdown, the next target has appeared in the cross-hairs and it is Hotfile, which as a web based file locker system can be used for sharing material without the copyright holders permission. In this case Hotfile are claiming safe habour under DMCA, but the studios contest this.
Ofcom imposed wholesale prices unlikely to change retail prices
Many outlets are announcing the approved Ofcom imposed price changes on BT as signaling a new wave of price reductions, but with changes of just 20p to 40p per month this is unlikely.
Ofcom extends migration consultation period
Long overdue changes to the migration systems for broadband, which are starting to address the problems of migrating off of full LLU services is to be delayed.
BT and TalkTalk loses appeal over infringement letters
The letter writing campaign that was a core part of the Digital Economy Act is one step closer to starting, after BT and TalkTalk lost an appeal to stop the act forcing them to send letters to customers.
Point Topic commissioned to map broadband across Europe
While the UK is still to set it own baseline metrics for judging its superfast broadband progress, Europe is proceeding to ensure it can monitor progress to the longer term 2020 deadline.
Is PIA the product people asked for, but no one really wanted?
IT Pro has highlighted the plight of PIA which for a short while promised access to Openreach ducting and the possibility of a non-BT Group company rolling out fibre to the premises across large parts of the UK.
NextGenUs to challenge Cumbria Council if BT wins tender
From the day that funding for Superfast Broadband and a USC was announced under the previous Labour Government, it has been clear that only the larger telco's in the UK stood a chance of major amounts of funding. NextGenUs looks set to challenge the status quo if Cumbria County Council awards the contract to BT.