The Commerce Commission has reported to the Minister of Communications on Sprint International New Zealand Limited's performance in complying with the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) Deed for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). This Deed sets out the service quality requirements for meeting the telephone communication needs of deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired people. The Commission's report is for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.

Each year, Sprint is required to provide the Commission with information on its compliance with the Service Quality Measures in the TRS Deed TSO instrument. These service quality measures require that at least 85% of calls will be answered by relay assistants within 15 seconds, and that no more than five calls per 100 to the TRS system will receive a busy signal. Compliance with these measures is assessed based on quarterly figures.

The Commission has advised the Minister of Communications that it is satisfied that Sprint has met all of the Service Quality Measures.

Background

Telecommunications Act 2001 The relevant TSO instrument is the TSO Deed for Telecommunications Relay Services dated July 9, 2004 between the Crown and Sprint International New Zealand, ('the Deed'). Under the Deed, Sprint agreed with the Crown that Telecommunications Relay Services would meet the service quality measures in schedule 3 of the Deed.

A copy of the Deed is available at: http://www.med.govt.nz

Section 80 of the Telecommunications Act states:

Assessment of compliance with TSO instrument

Not later than 60 working days after the end of each financial year of a TSO provider under a TSO instrument, the Commission must -

a) Assess the TSO provider's compliance with the TSO instrument during that financial year in accordance with any process set out in the TSO instrument; and

b) Notify the TSO provider and the Minister in writing of any non-compliance by the TSO provider with the TSO instrument.