Ofcom's page on this is here. The consultation closed 3 May 23. INCA has responded.
Please note this wasn't an open "what do you think" consultation, Ofcom asked for (evidenced) responses to 2 specific questions:
Question 1: Do you agree with our [Ofcom's] proposals to issue guidance under GC C2.3, GC C1.3 and GC C1.5 to clarify:
(1) that the description of broadband services should be consistent and include a one- or two-word description of the underlying technology; and
(2) that the use of the terms ‘fibre’ and ‘full-fibre’ in the information that is provided to customers should only be used to describe fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) services.
Question 2: Do you agree with our proposal for providers to give an explanation of the one- or two-word terms used to describe the service, in a way that can be easily accessed by customers?
After circulating the original draft, based on the Feb 22 INCA Position Statement but amended to focus on these 2 questions, we received several supportive comments from Members and a couple of comments to improve. These were included and a further draft was circulated. Finally, the Release Candidate was approved and submitted to Ofcom 3 May 23.
The additional comments were:
- The longer descriptions should be standardised as well as the 1- and 2-word terms.
- Ofcom and ASA should issue co-ordinated guidelines so that future issues don't fall down the gap between the two regulators.
- It was noted that "gigabit-labelling" was not part of the current proposals but may be revisited once the impact of these proposals is known.
in brief, INCA's answers to both questions was "yes" and INCA is entirely supportive of the proposals.
- INCA's response to the Ofcom consultation "Improving broadband information for customers" RC 1.3 3 May 23
- INCA's Position Statement Feb 22
- Ofcom's Position Paper Feb 22
- Ofcom Working Group documentation Sep 21 - Feb 22
IMPORTANT - Evidence required
INCA has used the following documents as evidence to go with the response.
- Ofcom definitions in General Conditions
- Ofcom definitions in Connected Nations report
- WIK report "Impact of labelling on full fibre adoption" Mar 21
- GigaTAG report on Gigabit Take-up Jun 21
- PointTopic report "Metrics for the UK Independent Sector" May 22
- BEIS letter to regulators calling for "provision of transparent information for consumers" Jan 22
- INCA Standards Group Position Statement to Ofcom Working Group RC v2.1
- INCA response to the Ofcom Working Group "consensus paper" v1.1 22 Feb 22
