The Telecommunications (Licence Modification)(Standard Schedules) Regulations 1999

Condition 41

SCHEMES FOR USERS WITH SPECIAL SOCIAL NEEDS

41.1  To the extent that this Condition is a Specified Condition, the Licensee shall make available and thereafter continue to make available to Users within the Designated Area who request telephony services, one or more schemes (a “Scheme”) the effect of which would be to assist Users who have difficulty affording telephone services, including, in particular Users with limited financial resources.

41.2  Each such Scheme shall comply with guidelines to be agreed between the Director and the Licensee. The guidelines shall be agreed within 3 months of the Director providing a draft of the guidelines to the Licensee. The guidelines shall be published in accordance with paragraph 41.4 below.

41.3  Those guidelines:

(a) shall specify the requirements to be met by the Scheme including the criteria to be applied by the Licensee in deciding which of its residential customers are entitled to the benefits of the Scheme;

(b) shall specify the date of the introduction of the Scheme; and

(c) may not be revoked or varied save with the prior written agreement of the Licensee.

41.4  The Licensee shall publish the guidelines referred to in paragraph 41.3 above by:

(a) sending a copy of them to the Director within three months of the guidelines being agreed with the Director;

(b) placing as soon as practicable thereafter a copy of them in a publicly accessible part of every Major Office of the Licensee in such a manner and in such place that they are readily available for inspection free of charge by members of the general public during such hours as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe that the register of Licences and final and provisional orders is to be open for public inspection under section 19(4) of the Act, or in the absence of any such order having been made by the Secretary of State, during normal office hours; and

(c) sending a copy thereof or such part or parts thereof to any person who may request such a copy.