Go-ahead for numbering deed

By Richard Braddell

WELLINGTON - The Commerce Commission has granted authorisation for a deed that allows for independent telephone number administration and provisions that could lead to number portability.

The deed, which was agreed between Telecom and some of the new entrant telephone companies after Government pressure last year, has been opposed by just as many companies because of an attached proviso that forces them into lengthy procedures that could lead to a number portability solution.

Portability is widely regarded as the key ingredient in a fully competitive market because it would enable subscribers to keep their old phone number if they decided to change to a new carrier.

But while the carriers unanimously support moving the administration of numbers from Telecom and into independent hands, some fear the number portability provisions may turn out to be inconclusive, or force them to foot costs they believe should be borne by Telecom. Most vocal among the critics has been Clear Communications, which launched a last minute attack against the constitutionality of the deed's coercive provisions. Clear said yesterday that it was still weighing its strategic options and offered no verdict on whether it would contest the deed in the courts.

In rejecting arguments against the deed, the Commerce Commission said yesterday that the "exclusionary arrangement" did not result in any competitive detriments.