Labour Party calls for tougher telecoms law

Irish Labour Party communications spokesperson Tommy Broughan has urged the Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey to strengthen telecoms legislation in the wake of complaints from users over the poor levels of service in the country. According to ElectricNews.net, Broughan has called on the minister to accept opposition amendments to the Communications Regulation Bill introduced in February. The Labour Party’s proposed changes include a call to allow ComReg to intervene directly on behalf of customers if service contracts have been breached or the terms of the universal service obligation not adhered to. Broughan is also calling for a three-month maximum wait for a residential landline; the adequate provision of access to the local loop for third-party broadband service providers; a universal service obligation for broadband; and rules to allow ComReg to regulate the content, marketing and pricing information for premium rate calls. ’I receive constant complaints to my office from householders about the behaviour of their phone, broadband or cable television service providers,’ Broughan said.