Telecommunications Commissioner underfunded

Media Release 4 October 2000

Telecommunications Commissioner underfunded

While welcoming the Telecommunications Inquiry's recommendation to set up an independent commissioner for the industry, the amount suggested - $1.5m per annum - to fund the office and its staff was totally inadequate said Norman Nicholls, Managing Director of telecommunications company, NEWCALL.

"I certainly don't want the industry to have to fund an expensive operation. However, understanding the issues and the investigations the commissioner will have to deal with in such a complex and fast moving industry, I must question whether enough thought has been given to the costs of such an operation," said Mr Nicholls.

He said that while the report brought some welcome consistency to an otherwise 'destabilised' market, he was disappointed at the lack of any innovative approach to the resolution of rural services and the Kiwi Share.

"It is crucial for the New Zealand economy as a whole to have a rural sector with up-to-date telecommunications," he said. "Current thinking - that Telecom's requirement to meet the needs of rural customers be extended to include 'slow speed data' - will simply condemn rural customers to sub standard service in the future."

ends

For further information please contact:

Norman Nicholls
tel: (09) 366 1199
mob: 021 624 586
email: norman.nicholls@newcall.co.nz

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