PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE LICENCE GRANTED TO BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS (BT)

The Director General of Telecommunications (“the Director”), in accordance with section 12(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (“the Act”), hereby gives notice that he proposes to make modifications to the licence granted to British Telecommunications (“BT”) on 22nd June 1984.   2. The Director proposes to make the modifications, which are set out in OFTEL’s statement Provision of Directory Information Services and Products of September 1998, to enable persons without Public Telecommunications Operators’ (PTO) licences to have access to the contents of the directory information database used by BT to publish directories and on-line access to the database used by BT to provide a directory information service. The condition will require that BT provides such items on terms which are fair, cost oriented and non-discriminatory. BT will be entitled to refuse to supply these items if the person requesting them does not undertake to comply with data protection legislation and any relevant Codes of Practice issued by the Data Protection Registrar. The purpose of this modification is to promote competition in the provision of telephone directories and directory information services. Further explanation of the reasons for the proposed modifications are set out in OFTEL’s statement referred to above (copies of which may be obtained from OFTEL on 0171 634 8761, or from OFTEL’s Web site at http://www.oftel.gov.uk).   3. The Director is required by section 12(2) of the Act to consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn. Subject to such consideration and BT’s consent, the Director proposes to make the modifications forthwith.   4. The consultation procedure comprises 2 stages. In the first stage, representations or objections to the proposed modifications may be made to Roland Sinker, OFTEL, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JJ (telephone 0171 634 8894; fax: 634 8893; E-mail: consumer.oftel@gtnet.gov.uk) by no later than Friday, 6th November 1998.   5. 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.   6. In the second stage of consultation, interested parties are invited to send comments to Roland Sinker (contact details at paragraph 4 above) no later than Friday, 20th November 1998 on representations and objections received in the first stage. V. Peters, a person authorised under paragraph 8 of schedule 1 to the Act. 22nd September 1998.