The Telecommunications (Open Network Provision) (Voice Telephony) Regulations 1998

Directory services—public operators

9.—(1) In exercising their functions under Part II and sections 47 to 49 of the Act, the Secretary of State and the Director shall ensure that subscribers provided with publicly available telephone services have the right to an entry in both publicly available telephone directories and directory information services and to verify, correct or request removal of that entry.

(2) In exercising their functions under Part II and sections 47 to 49 of the Act, the Secretary of State and the Director shall ensure that public telecommunications operators running a public telephone system make available to end-users receiving publicly available telephone services by means of that operator’s system, on request:

(a) publicly available telephone directories which satisfy the requirements in paragraph (3) below; and

(b) subject to regulation 13(b)(i), a directory information service which satisfies the requirements in paragraph (4) below.

(3) The publicly available telephone directories referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2)(a) above shall:

(a) cover all subscribers, including subscribers provided with publicly available telephone services by any other person, save those who have expressed opposition to being listed; and

(b) whether printed or electronic, or both, be in a form approved by the Director, and be updated on a regular basis.

(4) The directory information service referred to in paragraphs 1 and (2)(b) above shall cover all subscribers, including subscribers provided with publicly available telephone services by any other person, save those who have expressed opposition to having their numbers included.

(5) In exercising their functions under Part II and sections 47 to 49 of the Act, the Secretary of State and the Director shall ensure that public telecommunications operators in providing publicly available telephone directories and a directory information service:

(a) follow the principle of non-discrimination in their treatment and presentation of the information provided to them; and

(b) comply with relevant data protection legislation when processing any data or information pursuant to this regulation.

(6) In exercising their functions under Part II and sections 47 to 49 of the Act, the Secretary of State and the Director shall ensure that persons running a telecommunication system and to whom telephone numbers have been allocated:

(a) meet reasonable requests to make available the relevant details of their subscribers and of any other end-user to whom a telephone number allocated to that person has been allotted, for the purpose of enabling public telecommunications operators to comply with the obligations in paragraph (2) above;

(b) provide the information on terms which are fair, cost-oriented and non-discriminatory, and in a format which is agreed between the provider and recipient of the information, or where no agreement is reached, in a format which is approved by the Director; and

(c) comply with relevant data protection legislation when processing any data or information pursuant to these Regulations.