Globe urges NTC to make a new cost manual

By Lenie Lectura

Reporter

GLOBE Telecom urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to formulate a cost manual that will determine access charge rates instead of pushing for a new interconnection template that clearly bypasses negotiations between two interconnecting parties.   “The Commission should focus and train its resources in coming up with rules on cost manual and the determination of cost for purposes of access charge determination,” said Globe head for regulatory affairs Froilan Castelo. “This we believe is the most relevant and raging issue affecting all carriers on interconnection.” Access charge is the fee imposed by a carrier for calls by another that pass through its network. The legality and constitutionality of the proposed reference access offer or RAO is seriously in question, Castelo said. He said that existing laws governing interconnection is explicit that interconnection can only be had through negotiations. The  NTC’s RAO is the new template on interconnection agreement that spells out the terms and conditions carriers to access each other’s network. The general provisions in the RAO are already spelled out in other rules and regulations on interconnection. Globe is saying that the  new RAO template will nullify interconnection agreements currently in place among and between carriers.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04262007/companies05.html