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

Cost accounting principles—public operators

29.—(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 where a public operator is under a duty for its tariffs to follow the principle of cost orientation in accordance with regulation 27(1):

(a) the cost accounting systems operated by the public operator are suitable for the implementation of regulation 27 above and that compliance with such systems is verified by a competent body which is independent of that public operator; and

(b) a statement concerning compliance is published annually; and

(c) a description of the cost accounting systems referred to in paragraph (a) above, showing the main categories under which costs are compiled and the rules used for the allocation of costs to voice telephony services, is made available to the Director on request.

(2) Upon receipt by the Secretary of State of a request by the Commission for the information referred to in paragraph (1)(c) above, she shall notify the Director who shall submit information on the cost accounting systems applied by public operators to whom paragraph (1) applies to the Secretary of State, who shall thereupon submit the information requested to the Commission.

(3) 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 operators make available to the Director on request detailed accounting information in order to ensure compliance with these Regulations, in confidence and subject to the rights and obligations of the Director under section 101 of the Act.