Comreg relaunch their non universal USO

Sponge Bob

http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0632.pdf

But hey the Vulnerable User Scheme still exists ...according to Comreg. Must ask them what it IS ???

No proper lines till 2010 . Normal service in other words

Mr_Man

Having spent 10 minutes reading through this piece of rubbish it is easy to understand why Comreg are such a waste of space and money.

One point worth highlighting is:

In circumstances where the USP claims it is being excluded from providing service to an area
because of the existence of an agreement between third parties, ComReg will assess the
reasonableness of a request for the provision of service by reference to a number of factors as
set out in Document 06/29 (see page 18 thereof). Where the USP can demonstrate that it had
followed the steps outlined in Document 06/29 and had still not obtained connection and
access, the particular request could in general (but subject to assessment on a case by case
basis) be regarded as not reasonable.

Basiocally if you are stuck in a development where another provider has stitched up things with the builder, Comreg will happily sit by and allow you to be boxed into a monopoly.

Time for them to go.......... they add nothing but delay and cost

M.

eircomtribunal

Sponge Bob wrote:

But hey the Vulnerable User Scheme still exists ...according to Comreg. Must ask them what it IS ???

Eamon Ryan popped the question about the VUS to John at the Oireachtas meeting:
"At a previous presentation, Mr. Doherty addressed the issue of the roll-out of the vulnerable user scheme. The committee had expressed concern that as the fixed line rental rate was extremely high, it had a disproportionate effect on those with lowest incomes, as it constituted a very large percentage of their overall bill. Although the vulnerable user scheme was in place, it appeared to be hidden in the vaults of a building in St. Stephen's Green or somewhere because at the time, only 100 or 200 users availed of it. What is the current usage of the scheme? How successful has ComReg been in ensuring that those on lowest incomes are not disadvantaged by what appears to be a clear policy on the part of Eircom to try to ramp up their fixed line revenues as much as possible?"

John Doherty's answer is symptomatic of a regulatory impostor:

"As ComReg stated in this context the last time, this programme requires continual promotion, which is basically what has happened. I am glad to report that the figure of a couple of hundred people, to which I may have alluded the last time, has now grown to the point where more than 22,000 people have taken up the vulnerable user scheme. We continually explore ways to propagate that message best, in order that those to whom it is relevant know it is available. Moreover, ComReg does the same in respect of Eircom. As the joint committee is aware, one slight change which took place in the marketplace since then is that the Government has introduced a telecommunications scheme which benefits disabled people and those over 70. In total, it equates to approximately 400,000 people. Hence, the combination of the two schemes provides a degree of protection to vulnerable users. However, we must keep bringing this matter to people's attention to ensure they are aware of its benefits."

What a load of bs!
The lower quartile of bill-payers' protection against higher than inflation price rises (by means of specific price cap) was said to be replaced by the VUS and Eircom was allowed to crank up the line rental by 25%. The lower quartile of bill-payers faced massively higher than inflation telephony prices (When your bill is mainly constituted by the line rental, a 25% rise in the line rental will mean an almost 25% rise of your overall bill!), as the promised VUS was
a)shîte in itself and
b)hidden from usage.

To claim success with a figure of 22 000 VUS users needs some brass neck. To include the fact that the Dep of Social had to jump in and cough up tens of millions, which go 99% to Eircom, as the Tel subsidy now failed to even pay for the hiked up line rental, and to do so and say that now 400 000 users are protected needs even more brass neck.

P.

Foxwood

John Doherty wrote:

As the joint committee is aware, one slight change which took place in the marketplace since then is that the Government has introduced a telecommunications scheme which benefits disabled people and those over 70. In total, it equates to approximately 400,000 people.

FFS, the "free telephone" scheme has been in place for about 30 years!!!!!!!!!!!!