NZ numbering arrangements fall short - ComCom
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Posted Sun 31 August 2008 @ 7:47 p.m. by Ernie Newman
It will surprise absolutely nobody that the Commerce Commission's report on numbering management, released a couple of days ago, finds that New Zealand's numbering regime fails to meet best practice standards.
According to the Commission, iinternational best practice clearly reflects that the national numbering plan is a national resource; numbering should be managed in the overall national interest; and numbering allocation and use should be objective, timely, transparent and non-discriminatory.
TUANZ has been saying since 1999 that the Number Administration Deed is a totally unsatisfactory mechanism to administer a country's numbering system. We are not against industry self regulation if it is done competently, transparently and well - but this Deed has none of those characteristics.
We will certainly be making submissions by the required date of 19 September - a tight deadline but one that reflects the "no-brainer" nature of the questions.
Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Ross Patterson has done well to get this matter onto his agenda. I hope he sends a copy of his report to the Commissioners of 1999 who approved the Deed - against the very strong advocacy of many including CLEAR communications, TUANZ, and Sir Geoffrey Palmer! Check here for a flashback into history!
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