Ofcom ruling on MAC codes

Ofcom today announced new rules intended to ensure that customers are able
to switch to a different broadband provider quickly and easily. This follows
a public consultation published in August.

From 14 February 2007, General Condition 22: Service Migrations will require
broadband providers to supply consumers with a migration authorisation code
upon request and free of charge. The new rules will also make it the
responsibility of all broadband providers to ensure that technical and
operational problems such as tag on line do not hinder consumers’ ability to
switch.

News release:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061213

ABC wrote:

> News release:
> http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061213

Excellent news and I'm glad Ofcom stepped up to resolve it. The problems
associated with the old rules just smacked of anticompetitiveness.

--
Jay L. T. Cornwall, http://www.esuna.co.uk/~jay/
PhD Student
Imperial College London

In article <elpb1s$f4m$1$(E-Mail Removed)>, Jay L. T. Cornwall
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>ABC wrote:
>
>> News release:
>> http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061213
>
>Excellent news and I'm glad Ofcom stepped up to resolve it. The problems
>associated with the old rules just smacked of anticompetitiveness.

Most of the rules were previously included in the industry's voluntary
code of practice -- but some notable ISPs chose not to subscribe to it
(PlusNet being one). The rules will now be mandatory and they are
significant in several respects:

a) A request for a MAC key must be met within 5 working days

b) Any customer who is (allegedly) in debt to his ISP or who is in
mid-contract must also be given their MAC key on request, leaving the
ISP to recover monies owed later, presumably via the courts if
necessary

c) From December 21, the same rules will apply to LLU migrations back
to BT IPStream - which will be handled under the same MAC key process
and without an enforced cease & reprovide

d) ISPs cannot charge a fee for issuing a MAC key and they are obliged
to issue them as often as any customer wants.

This is a big step towards cleaning up an industry which has been
getting a bad name of late. Ofcom has finally shown its teeth.

Stan

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:16:06 -0000, "ABC" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>News release:
>http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061213
>
They did OK:-
"A Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) is a unique alphanumeric reference..."

up to
"providers must provide MAC codes"

Geo

Geo wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:16:06 -0000, "ABC" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> News release:
>> http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061213
>>
> They did OK:-
> "A Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) is a unique alphanumeric reference..."
>
> up to
> "providers must provide MAC codes"
>
Do they also provide personal PIN numbers?

--
Dave
mail da (E-Mail Removed) (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time