Stephen Conroy asks for input on the NBN by the end of July
The federal government is seeking views from the community about the National Broadband Network (NBN) roll out, which is said to be starting in a couple of weeks in Tasmania.
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, says he is seeking opinions on the legislative framework for the NBN company.
“It is essential that the legislation governing the National Broadband Network company and its operations is thoroughly considered,” Senator Conroy said. “There is a wealth of experience and expertise in the community and the Government wants to ensure people have the best opportunity to comment on the proposed framework for the National Broadband Network company.”
The Government is currently considering submissions already received on its discussion paper, Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband, which also included a policy framework for the regulation of the National Broadband Network company and its access regime. The Government is now inviting all interested parties to put forward their views on the detailed implementation of that framework.
“The National Broadband Network company will operate on a wholesale-only, open access basis with oversight by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission,” Senator Conroy said. “This framework will improve competition in the Australian telecoms sector by providing access to retailers on an open and equivalent basis.”
Issues that interested parties may wish to address include:
- The optimal access regime for the National Broadband Network.
- The appropriate equivalence obligation for the company and the services it offers, and how this would operate in practice.
- The nature of ownership restrictions applied to private sector investors to protect the Government’s equivalence objective for the wholesale-only network.
- Arrangements for the Government to sell its stake in the network.
- Any other rights and obligations to be conferred on the company.
Submissions received will be provided to the Lead Advisor to the National Broadband Network Implementation Study.
Written submissions should be provided by 5:00 pm (AEST) Thursday 30 July 2009, and can be forwarded by email to
[email protected]. Submissions may be made publicly available online.
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