Telecommunications: operator number portability and carrier pre-selection

The Committee is pleased to see that the Commission continues to take positive action towards the full liberalization of voice telephony. However, as far as carrier pre-selection is concerned, the Committee added the comment that "this must include a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis". In the course of its consultations starting with the Green Paper (COM(96) 590 final), the Commission has referred to a number of independent studies of cost-benefit analysis. However, the Commission has not published its own cost-benefit analysis. Accordingly, the Committee calls on the Commission to make available an EU-specific cost-benefit assessment. The consumer interest must be a priority in assessing carrier pre-selection. In particular, consumers should be fully informed of all carrier pre-selection costs. The Committee recommends that, as is already law in some Member States, these costs may not include a charge on an existing subscriber for using a second operator or service. �