POSITION

on the listing in contracts of the countries which belong to the different international groups

At its session held on 15.02.2018, the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC/ the commission) adopted the following position on the listing in contracts of the countries which belong to the different international groups:

Operators are not obliged to list in the contracts the countries which belong to the different international groups. Operators are obliged to ensure transparency of the conditions for carrying out international calls by including in the contracts the prices of calls to the different international groups and information about the groups to which the minutes included in the tariff plan apply (if the plan includes minutes for international calls).

Operators should ensure that accurate and detailed information about the countries included in different groups is provided through their websites, in the sales network/specialized retailers and through customer service centers. Customers’ special attention should be drawn in case of difference in the charging methods for international calls to mobile and to fixed networks.

CRC advises all customers to be informed in advance of the charging conditions for international calls to specific destinations of which they are interested.

The Commission again draws customers' attention to the difference between roaming calls and international calls. Detailed information is available on the CRC`s website under "For Consumers" section, "International Roaming" subsection.

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) launched a public consultation procedure under Art. 37 of the Electronic Communications Act on a draft amendment to the Reference offer submitted by BTC and CRC’s position to modify the latter. The elaborated by CRC position in the form of a draft decision aims at ensuring effective implementation of the imposed on BTC specific obligations. The drafts of the decision and the amendment to the reference offer have been published on the Commission’s website – www.crc.bg under the section “Public consultations”. The stakeholders may send their written opinions within 14 days from the date of the present publication to the following address: Sofia, 6, Gurko str., Communications Regulation Commission.  

POSITION

on the offering of discounts on the subscription price for electronic communications services valid for the contract’s duration

At its session held on 01.02.2018 the Communications Regulation Commission adopted the following position on the offering of discounts on the subscription price for electronic communication services:

The Electronic Communications Act (ECA) does not prohibit concluding contracts under promotional conditions and offering of discounts on the subscription price for the duration of the contract, as long as the requirements have been met for public disclosure of the conditions and for non-discrimination of consumers. In this context, the undertakings may offer tariffs at a discounted standard rate for the duration of the fixed-term contracts. The practice of charging the standard rate for the tariff after expiration of the fixed-term contract and its transformation into a termless contract is not a violation of the ECA.

Under Art. 45, para 5 of the General requirements for provision of public electronic communications, the promotional and standard subscription price as well as the duration of the promotion shall be clearly indicated in the contract. Pursuant to Art. 229a, para 1 of the ECA, the subscriber has the right to terminate without penalty a termless contract on one month’s notice.

The Communications Regulation Commission adopted a draft feedback analysis obtained in 2017 by filling in a survey on the administrative service’s satisfaction provided by CRC and planned actions to improve it. 

Measures taken from Communications Regulation Commission for the implementation of Roaming Regulation

The Communications Regulation Commission adopted a Decision No 61 at its regular session on 01 February 2018 where indicates to be prepared from MOBILTEL EAD a draft amendment to the General terms and conditions for mobile services in the part where the fair use policy of regulated roaming services is covered. The guidelines aim at increasing the transparency and protection of end-users roaming rights.

In connection with Decision No 47 of 25.01.2018 of the Communications Regulation Commission, the undertakings registered as of 31.12.2017 in a public registry of the undertakings having notified the Commission for their intention to carry out public electronic communications, should submit by 01.03.2018 information on their activity during the past year in conformity with templates of questionnaires and instructions to them published on CRC’s website under the section Practical information, subsection Questionnaires, category Questionnaires for the undertakings providing electronic communications, point 2 Annual questionnaires about the activity of the undertakings in 2017.