Ofcom does something

bealtine

Now where are Comreg? Hiding in the bunker again?
Still it's only a code of practice but a lot better than what we get from
Comreg which is exactly nothing.
Where is the consumer panel now the one that IoffL were refused entry to?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7764489.stm


Net speed rules come into force
Space shuttle blasts off, AP

Customers will be better informed about the speed of their net connection under new rules.

The Ofcom-backed code of practice has won pledges from net firms to give more information about line speeds.

Net firms covering 95% of the UK's broadband users have signed up to the voluntary scheme which comes into force on 5 December.

Over the next six months Ofcom will monitor net firms to ensure they live up to their promises.

No penalty

The code of conduct was drawn up in response to research that suggested consumers were confused by adverts that promised broadband speeds that few consumers could achieve.

Almost a quarter of people do not get the speed they expect, according to early results from Ofcom research, which is due to be published in full in 2009.

The code requires net firms to:

# Give new customers an accurate estimate of the maximum speed their line can support.

# Explain how technical issues could slow speeds and give advice about how to combat these problems.

# Downgrade a customers deal, at no penalty, if line speeds are a lot lower than the original estimate.

Customers must also get timely warnings if they breach the data download caps that many net firms impose on customers.

Consumers can check whether their net firm has signed up to the code of practice via the Ofcom website.

Anna Bradley, chair of Ofcom's Communications Consumer Panel, welcomed the code.

"The new code will help consumers make better informed choices," she said in a statement.

"It addresses the concerns that we raised with Ofcom and the ISPs last year about broadband speeds - about the mismatch between the speeds that consumers think they are buying and what they actually get."

Slutmonkey57b

ComReg are the same place they always were - nowhere to be seen, doing nothing, twiddling their thumbs with their feet on their desk while trousering money from the telco's.*


*Libel lawyers: Comreg is funded by direct subscription from telco's so I'm not lying, even if it *looks* like I'm accusing them of taking bribes, which I'm clearly not. Why attribute to bribery what can easily be explained by gross incompetence, after all?

bealtine

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

ComReg are the same place they always were - nowhere to be seen, doing nothing, twiddling their thumbs with their feet on their desk while trousering money from the telco's.*

While paying over some of that money to the government...

I still would like to know why Ireland's only specialised consumer organization was refused entry to the consumer panel under Damien's excellent stewardship.
It simply shows their utter lack of interest in consumer issues when consumers are not even considered for the "consumer" panel.
Whats the point of this consumer panel?
Where are their reports?
What have they done since it was started?
Why have they not looked to Ofcom for guidance and collaboration on consumer issues? Surely similar issues are common to these two islands?

Could it be another Mary Harney nail bar junket panel?

Slutmonkey57b

How could you possibly be so cynical?
I'm sure that the consumer panel is doing work that's at *least* up to the standard of the rest of the civil servants in the Department of Communications.

Ie they're doing **** all at inflated salaries and moaning to their union about how there's nobody on staff to polish their gold slippers while they're on their lunch break.

bealtine

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

How could you possibly be so cynical?
I'm sure that the consumer panel is doing work that's at *least* up to the standard of the rest of the civil servants in the Department of Communications.

Me cynical nevah!

I'm sure they are very busy doing errrrr something or other.

watty

Comreg are in process of gathering statistics (by asking ISPs) about peak and off peak average speeds. Then they are going to do something.

Mind you, Ofcom are more orientated toward helping the operators and making money out of Spectrum Auctions. The've lobbied Viv. Redding on the Mobile ops behalf.