Commerce Commission releases Telco document

29 May 2002/59

The Commerce Commission has released a guide to its responsibilities under the Telecommunications Act.

The paper, “A Guide to the role of the Commerce Commission in making access determinations under the Telecommunications Act 2001” follows a draft discussion paper released in December last year, shortly after the Telecommunications Bill was enacted.

Before finalising the paper, the Commission sought views of industry and interested parties and held a conference in April to provide parties with an opportunity to make oral presentations based on their submissions.

Osmond Borthwick, Network Access Manager, said that the Commission was aware that telecommunications was a complex and changing industry.

“The guide discusses the Commission’s role in making access determinations, recommending changes to designated and specified services, approving draft codes and calculation and allocation of the cost of the Telecommunications Service Obligations.

“The Commission wants to increase certainty and transparency regarding its responsibilities, in order to reduce the costs on the industry of complying with the Act.”

The Commerce Commission has received three applications for access determinations under the Act.

A copy of the paper is available from the Commission website, www.comcom.govt.nz/telecommunications/Overview.cfm

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