2021 consultation responses

We welcome the opportunity to respond publicly to Ofcom’s review of the Net Neutrality Framework, having recently discussed the Framework with Ofcom. The review provides a chance for Ofcom to promote and protect competition and fairness for consumers across the market, which we strongly support. 

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation and we agree that the UK needs “a tough and efficient competition enforcement regime to detect, investigate, penalise, and remedy breaches of competition law”.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s initial observations in its first steps to reviewing measures to protect people in debt or at risk of disconnection. Our response provides input on behalf of consumers, citizens and micro businesses and is informed by our regular engagement with relevant stakeholders and insights from our independent research.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s consultation on extending the range of mobile phone repeaters that can be used without a licence and on measures to improve information for consumers. We believe that consumers, citizens and micro-businesses need access to basic, secure, affordable, reliable, resilient communications services that are both accessible and usable across a variety of devices. Improving indoor mobile coverage is an important component to achieving reliable communications services.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the PSA’s review of its Code of Practice. We previously responded to the PSA’s discussion document1 outlining our support for the Code review. As outlined in the consultation and by PSA representatives who regularly attend the Panel’s monthly meetings, mobile-based services have continued to significantly grow in recent years and regulation needs to be fit for purpose in a changing digital landscape.

The Panel welcomes the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s consultation on protecting voice-only landline customers - paying particular attention to the needs of older people, people with additional access needs, consumers living in rural areas or on low incomes.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the call for evidence on improving connectivity for very hard to reach areas and support efforts to make connectivity universal. We believe that now, more than ever, universal coverage across the UK is vital to ensure that no one is left behind.

We welcome the opportunity to contribute to this call for inputs on behalf of consumers, citizens and micro businesses who rely on postal services. We are keen to ensure that postal services work fairly for everyone and that the Universal Service Obligation remains fit for purpose, protecting all USO postal users in the UK.

The Panel welcomes the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s consultation on proposals for a new landline and broadband switching process and to improve information for mobile switching.

The Panel welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation, in our capacity as ACOD members and members representing consumers and citizens in all of the Nations and Regions of the UK. The Panel advocates that consumers, citizens and micro-businesses should have access to affordable, reliable communications services that suit their needs.

The Panel strongly supports mandating protections for British Sign Language (BSL) users, by adding to its General Conditions the requirement to provide video relay for 999 calls and zero rating the cost of the data required to make these calls.

The Panel welcomes the opportunity to respond formally to the CCNI’s draft corporate plan for the next three years. We support the CCNI’s attention to the telecoms and postal services in its proposed strategy and priorities for the year ahead. 

The Panel welcomes the opportunity to comment on Ofcom’s plan of work for the next financial year. We believe that the Panel’s existing priorities dovetail with Ofcom’s areas of core focus and we look forward to working with Ofcom and others to drive forward the interests of consumers, citizens and micro businesses in communications policy development and quality of service.