Question 15/III - Tariff and international accounting principles to be applied in the Videotex services (continuation of the study of Question 16/III considered during the 1985-1988 study period) (This Question is to be studied in liaison with Study Groups I and VIII.) Reasons for the study The subject of this Question requires continuous study in the light of experience gained and advances made in telecommunications. Study of this Question should take particular account of the guidelines developed during the 1985-1988 study period (see annex to this Question). Future studies on charging in the international Videotex service should expand the focus of the 1985-1988 study period to include the following points: -possible use of units other than duration for remunerating the costs of the "communication" element; - possible use of new units for remunerating application costs; -presentation to the user of application and possibly communication costs (in which currency? possible conversion rules); -differentiation if necessary between the "application" and "communication" elements; -reverse charging for the "communication" element and negative application charge (bonus, rebate, credit); - processing of complaints, refunds; - free status of test traffic; - fiscal problems relating to application charges; - use of the ISDN for the Videotex service; - complementary network facilities offered to subscribers. ANNEX (to Question 15/III) Tariff and accounting guidelines for the international Videotex service Preamble This annex sets out the general principles and conditions for charging and international accounting which could be applied by administrations for the provision of the international Videotex service*. It takes into account the two specific cost elements involved: Communication costs and Applications costs. 1. General principles In determining tariff principles to be applied to this service, consideration should be given to the structure and level of charges applicable to other international telecommunication services supplied by the administrations concerned, and to the provisions of Recommendation D.5. In principle, tariffs developed for Videotex services should: -be flexible enough to enable new needs to be accommodated as the service develops; -be as administratively simple as possible; -be easily understood by subscribers. 2. Explanation of some terms specifically related to the Videotex service Communication costs The costs of the use of the public networks and dedicated Videotex equipment, between the user and the application. Application costs The price of the information and/or transaction provided to the user. Country A The country in which the user of a Videotex terminal originates a Videotex call. Country B The country which receives a Videotex call from country A. - - - - - - - - - - - - - * See also Recommendation F.300 3. International accounting 3.1 Communication element 3.1.1 The costs for the Videotex communication service incurred in country A (including the costs for the use of the national public networks and the international Videotex equipment of country A) are covered by the collection charges levied in this country and are not included in the international accounting. 3.1.2 The level and division of the accounting rate for the international network used are those normally applied to that network, as regulated by the relevant Recommendations. 3.1.3 The costs for the provision of the Videotex communication service in country B are covered by an accounting share calculated on a duration basis in order to cover the following cost elements: a) the use of the international Videotex equipment of country B; b) the data transmission between the international Videotex equipment and the Videotex service in country B; c) the use of the Videotex service in country B; d) the use of data transmission between the Videotex service in country B and possible external computers. As cost elements c) and d) may vary according to the time of day or service offered, the remuneration of these elements may be dynamically specified by country B. Note 1 - Not all items may be involved in all Videotex service communications. Note 2 - Pending the outcome of possible cost studies, the level of the accounting share for elements a) and b) will be determined by bilateral agreement. Note 3 - Calculation of the accounting share on a volume or other basis is for further study. 3.2 Application element In the following cases, the application costs are remunerated via international accounting: -the application is provided by third parties, but the administration of country B acts as an agent for its remuneration; -the application is provided by the administration of country B. It may be necessary to identify different types of application charges for commercial or legal reasons. Note 1 - In a case where a user signs a direct contract with a third party application provider in country B or with the administration of country B, remuneration is not handled by international accounting; these guidelines do not apply to such a case. Note 2 - In a case where a Videotex service provider in country A signs a direct contract with a third party application provider in country B, remuneration is not handled by international accounting; these guidelines do not apply to such a case. 4. Collection charges The establishment of collection charges is a national matter. 4.1 Communication element The charge collected from the user shall cover the end-to-end costs incurred for the provision of the Videotex communication service. 4.2 Application element 4.2.1 General The collection charge includes the application element when the latter is remunerated via the international accounting (see 3.2). 4.2.2 Charging units Application costs can be remunerated through the following units: -frame; - duration; - transaction. Other units are for further study. The application charges are usually subject to agreement between the application provider and the Videotex service provider of country B. These charges may be subject to limits set by bilateral agreement between the Videotex service providers involved. 5. Exchange of charging data Information about the application and possibly communication costs is usually only available in country B. These costs may vary during a session. Therefore it is necessary to transmit this information to country A in order to: - bill the user; -inform the user in advance about the costs of the application or Videotex service requested (if this facility is provided); -support the "cost limit" facility (if this facility is provided). To meet these requirements concurrent transmission of charging data is recommended. In case of duration based application or communication charges with a constant level during a given session, the concurrent transmission of the charging data may not be necessary. In this case the administration of country A can charge the user dependent upon the selection of the application or network address. This implies that the administration of country A is informed beforehand about the charging levels related to the relevant application or network address. "Post session" transmission of billing information is for further study. 6. Recording of charging information The administration of country B is responsible for keeping the records for accounting purposes. In order to maintain consistency between the records in the two countries, individual charges and modifications to the time based charges may need to be acknowledged by country A before being officially recorded by country B. The unit time for duration based charges is subject to the capabilities of the Videotex services involved. The chargeable period starts when the international Videotex equipment of country B detects that the requested service or application is connected. It stops when this equipment detects that the service or application is disconnected from country A. The charge is the chargeable period rounded up to the next unit of time, multiplied by the current rate. The start and stop of the chargeable period and/or the charge may be transmitted to country A. Note - Reverse charging of communication charges and negative application charges (credit) are for further study. 7. Exchange of accounting data The accounts (which exclude the accounting share, see 3.1.3) are expressed in the currency of country B. The administration of country A may wish to be remunerated for collecting charges for the administration of country B, but the application provider should be paid for his information at the same rate as for national access. The remuneration of the costs incurred by country A and country B for acting as agents of the application provider is for bilateral agreement. 8. User complaints and refunds A user in country A should complain to the administration of country A. An application provider in country B should complain to the administration of country B. The problem of refunds is for further study. 9. Test traffic The provisions of free access for test traffic is for further study.