From 26 November 2006 to 12 January 2007, ARCEP conducted an extensive public consultation on the functioning of the Value Added Services (VAS) sector. It received close to 40 contributions from operators (originating operators, collection operators and service providers) as well as content editors, professional associations, consumer associations and consumers themselves. ARCEP launched now the second stage aiming to improve the functioning of value-added services. It was notifying the European Commission and submitted for public consultation a draft decision imposing accessibility obligations on operators which control access to end users.

Two types of obligations are planned:

- an obligation imposed on operators present at both ends of the value chain (i.e. originating operators and users of VAS numbers), to grant reasonable requests for access to VAS numbers under objective, transparent and non-discriminatory conditions, without prejudice to a cut-off or suspension right in case of fraud or default of ethical rules

- an obligation imposed on originating operators to grant reasonable invoicing, collection or repayment requests of part of the amounts invoiced to users, under objective and non-discriminatory conditions.

The published document includes several areas of consideration which aim to improve consumer trust in the VAS sector as concerns ethics, transparency and pricing clarity.

 

 

• First, almost all contributors requested, like ARCEP, the existence, first, of a body responsible for monitoring ethics and uses of VAS, and second, of ethical rules. This is why it is urgent that an end be put to the current vacuum in order to allow players to act within an established legal framework when they are faced with indelicate services or uses.

 

 

• Second, other than the areas of reflection expressed by ARCEP concerning the harmonisation of price levels, players made many suggestions on how to improve the functioning of this sector and consumer trust:

. In terms of ethical control, some are in favour of establishing a content classification or creating specific levels in the national numbering plan in order to be able to propose targeted offers to consumers

. As for improving clarity and pricing transparency, some are in favour of creating colour codes for the entire sector or of requiring that VAS prices be communicated at the start of the call or of restructuring the national numbering plan in order to cover so-called risky services.

In order to continue the debate on these subjects and to examine ways of improving price clarity and transparency to the benefit of consumers, ARCEP will be creating an ad hoc working group representing all members on the VAS value chain (operators, content publishers and consumers).

Posted on March 14th, 2007 by lbraum
Filed under: France, all