Ofcom release information about VDSL interference complaints
A recent Freedom of Information request to Ofcom sought to find out information about Ofcom's handling of complaints of interference in particular that caused by the VDSL system used by internet providers like Openreach

The questions asked were:

1) For the period from 1st April 2020 to 31st December 2020, how many complaints have Ofcom received about interference from VDSL systems?

We received 101 complaints related to interference from VDSL systems.

2) During the same period, how many other complaints have Ofcom received that concerned radio interference caused by factors other than VDSL?

We received 1419 interference complaints not related to VDSL.
3) Separately for the complaints in questions 1 and 2 above, how many of the complaints are still open and how many have been closed?

• In response to question 1: 101 closed, 0 open.
• In response to question 2: 1368 closed, 33 open.

4) Separately for the complaints in questions 1 and 2 above which have been closed:

4a) How many were resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant?

We do not hold such information - we track satisfaction by survey feedback responses submitted upon case closure and very few surveys are completed.

4b) how many were closed because you determined the interference was not “harmful”?

No cases were closed due to the interference not being ‘harmful’. We provide advice to the complainant regardless of determined interference cause.

4c) how many were closed because you determined that you were unable to act?

We do not hold this information - this is not a category that we measure.

4d) how many were closed because you determined that acting against the interference was not in the public interest or was not justified in the fulfilment of your statutory functions or duties?

We do not hold this information - this is not a category that we measure.

4e) how many were closed because you determined that you could not act on weak signal communications?

None were closed on this basis.

4f) how many were closed for reasons other than those in questions 4a to 4e above, and what were those reasons?

We are unable to respond to this question as the information is not readily accessible as a considerable amount of time would be needed to locate, retrieve, identify and extract any relevant information. There are over 1400 cases and we would need to manually review each case individually to search for this information. Section 12 of the Act provides that we are not obliged to comply with a request for information if we estimate that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the “appropriate limit”. We estimate that it would take over 18 hours to identify and extract the information you requested, therefore the cost of complying with this question will exceed the appropriate limit. We are therefore not able to provide any information in relation to this question.

5) For the complaints in question 1 above, how many were passed to Openreach for further investigation?

24 complaints were passed to Openreach for further investigation.

6) For the complaints in question 1 above, did Ofcom or Openreach carry out investigations into the cause of the reported interference, and if so how many cases were successful in reducing the level of Interference observed and by how much was the level reduced?

Once Ofcom have accepted the report of harmful interference is due to VDSL, the case is passed to Openreach, Ofcom does not then carry out any further investigation. We do not hold information on: whether Openreach carried out investigations, how many cases were successful in reducing the level of interference and how much the interference reduced by.

The FoI can be seen at
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/ ... -radio.pdf

4b is untrue. I had my first complaint about VDSL turned down for that exact reason.

4c is deceitful. My second vdsl complaint (when it got even worse) was fwd to Openreach who said that radiation was caused by several neighbours wiring downstream of the master socket unbalancing the line & they had no obligation to deal with it. Ofcom closed my case and never responded when I asked

(1) amateur bands can be notched. why don't you insist this is done where problems exist
(2) master socket seems unfit for purpose in isolating consumer kit from overhead drop wires
(3) openreach are, by their own admission, knowingly facilitating unlicenced transmissions. Why are they not persued.


Ofcom are very keen to impose EMF regulations on us, but ignore those issues from Openreach.
RSGB have a study about the future of our hobby. That future will be quite short if Ofcom can't be persuaded to enforce regulations. Especially if E-vehicle chargers continue to exploit a loophole in the law.