The Telecommunications (Voice Telephony) Regulations 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Directive 95/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony (“the Voice Telephony Directive”).

The Regulations apply the Directive to British Telecommunications plc (“BT”) and Kingston upon Hull City Council and Kingston Communications (Hull) PLC (“Kingston”). The Licences granted to BT and Kingston under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12) are modified (regulation 3) to incorporate Licence Conditions transposing provisions of the Voice Telephony Directive. These Conditions are referred to as “VTD Conditions” and are set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations. Other provisions are already given effect to by existing Licence Conditions.

The BT and Kingston Licences (including modifications) may be inspected at, and copies of the Kingston Licences and modifications to the BT Licence obtained from, the Library of the Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL), 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JJ. The BT Licence (fourth edition November 1995) is published by HMSO price £19.95.

A compliance cost assessment is available and can be obtained from Communications and Information Industries Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS.