Agenda item

The Chairman introduced Sharon White, Chief Executive of Ofcom.

Ms White outlined Ofcom’s priorities on the provision of mobile and broadband across the UK. She emphasised the need to reach a position where every household had a good level of broadband and mobile coverage, highlighting that only 60% of premises in rural areas were currently able to receive superfast speeds. On the Universal Service Obligation, she outlined the three potential specifications Ofcom had presented to Government for its decision – a basic minimum download speed only, a highly specified USO including other elements such as upload speed, or a guaranteed superfast download speed.

The following points were made:

·         In response to a question about the inaccuracy of up to speed advertisements, Ms White recognised the frustrations of members and outlined two Ofcom authored Voluntary Residential and Business Broadband codes agreed amongst major broadband providers to tackle the issue. However, it was emphasised that the codes only recommended providers release customers from a contract should their connection fall below the speed achieved by the bottom 10 percentile of similar customers.

·         Ms White was questioned on the levers Ofcom would use to encourage mobile operators to roll out better mobile connectivity across the country. Members felt that mobile phone companies could provide better information on this and improve engagement with residents. Ms White outlined Ofcom’s ability to fine mobile network operators (MNOs) for poor coverage with the money returning to HM Treasury. She also advised members that Ofcom were trying to reach a position where mobile coverage was more accurately captured  for every premise in the country. A publication on this would be issued later this year.

·         Ms White was asked to outline how Ofcom’s plans to further separate BT and Openreach would secure better coverage for rural areas. In addition, many members outlined local issues with Openreach including with the poor quality of roadwork completion, the fixing of infrastructure faults and the missing of engineer appointments. It was felt that consumers had to be further empowered to be able to break a contract when a service was unreliable or failing. Members were assured that Ofcom would start to publish customer service league tables for all companies that used Ofcom and were working to impose tougher customer service standards.

·         There was a brief discussion on the frustrations of being unable to find out if the installation of a mast would provide better coverage in an area, as this information was confidential. Members were advised that providers needed to balance consumer interests with confidentiality rules. However, new rules meant operators would be obliged to make telegraph polls available to other operators, whilst BT would also be asked to produce a database to show where underground ducts were, which could potentially reduce the cost of building new networks by 15-20%.

·         Ms White was asked if Ofcom would have any role in regulating smaller, private providers. Although Ofcom would not be regulating these companies, they would spread best practise to all providers.

·         Members raised concerns on plans to build new houses in areas with poor or no mobile or broadband coverage. The importance of ensuring that this was recognised and coverage provided in these areas was emphasised. Members were advised that Ofcom were analysing new build areas, and would welcome members sending information on specific examples.

·         There was a point made on planning. Ms White shared the observations she had been passed by mobile operators that they were more likely to invest in an area if they thought the local planning system was more receptive to the placement or upgrading of mobile infrastructure.

The Chairman thanked Ms White.

Daniel Shamplin-Hall, Adviser, briefly updated members on the LGA’s lobbying priorities on broadband and mobile. He also drew their attention to the Digital Connectivity Summit the LGA to be held in March.

·         Members requested that it should be made clear that the USO apply to the whole of the UK. There was also a brief discussion on the reasons that BT were the only supplier who had signed up to the USO.

Decision

1.    The board noted the presentation.

Actions

1.    The LGA to continue lobbying government to improve broadband and mobile connectivity, working with Ofcom to achieve this. Officers to continue encouraging the sharing of best practise.

2.    Officers to send details to members to enable them to submit examples of poor coverage to Ofcom.

3.    Officers to continue to look into opportunities for sharing updates with members (e.g. through events).

4.    Officers to liaise with Ofcom to obtain the document setting out consumer rights.

5.    Officers to explore options for fines imposed on mobile operators being put back into funding connectivity.

6.    Officers to explore plans for broadband access to be set under planning rules.

7.    Officers to provide a further update at the next board meeting,