NOTICE UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1984

PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS OF THE LICENCE OF CONCERT

The Director General of Telecommunications (“the Director”), in accordance with section 12(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (“the Act”), hereby gives notice of proposed modifications to the licence (“the Licence”), which was granted to Concert (“the Licensee”) by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 18th December 1996. The effect of the proposed modifications would be to allow the Director to determine that the current network charge controls, which were added to the Licence with effect from 1st January 2000, could continue until 31st March 2002. The controls established under Condition 66 of the Licence are due to expire on 30th September 2001. The Director proposes to make this modification to the Licence to ensure that the current controls continue should the Licensee reject proposals for future controls, and the Director referred the matter to the Competition Commission to consider whether the Director’s proposal was in the public interest. The Competition Commission would be unlikely to report to the Director until after the ending of the current control period. The proposed modifications would therefore ensure that the current controls could continue for the period 1st October 2001 until 31st March 2002, and any new controls would then commence from 1st April 2002. The proposed modification is set out in the Statement Rollover of Concert’s existing network charge controls, which is to be published on 26th July 2000. Through the aforementioned Statement, the Director is seeking comments on the proposed modification to the Licence. The proposed modification of the Licence is also available from Mike Galvin at OFTEL, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JJ, (telephone 020-7634 8869). The Director is required by section 12(2) of the Act to consider any representations or objections duly made and not withdrawn. Subject to such consideration, and to the consent of the Licensee, the Director proposes to make the modifications as soon as practicable after the statutory consultation is completed. The consultation procedure comprises of two stages. In the first stage, representations on or objections to the proposed modifications may be made to Mike Galvin at OFTEL, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JJ, (telephone 020-7634 8869, fax 020-7634 8924, e-mail mike.galvin@oftel.gov.uk), by no later than 22nd August 2000. Any confidential material should be clearly marked as such and separated out into a confidential annex. All representations and objections received by OFTEL, with the exception of material marked confidential, will be made available for inspection in OFTEL’s Research and Intelligence Unit. Comments on this document (if they are relatively short) can also be sent electronically to OFTEL at press.office@oftel.gov.uk. In the second stage of consultation, interested parties are invited to send comments to OFTEL by no later than 5th September 2000, on representations and objections received during the first stage. D. A. Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications