Clare CURRAN
Communications and IT Spokesperson                       

5 September 2013      MEDIA STATEMENT

Adams must extend 4G spectrum sale timeline

The Government’s sale of the 4G spectrum is too rushed, giving companies just eight weeks to prepare bids for the auction, Labour’s Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said today.

“The sale of the 4G spectrum is a real opportunity for the country. We need to get it right. Amy Adams is rushing this for no reason other than to meet her self-imposed timetable of getting the spectrum off the books by the new year.

“I know that industry is worried about the short time frame. This is not an ordinary auction or bid. There is a lot to consider. They should be given time to get their bids right.

“The last thing we want to see is this opportunity squandered and some spectrum left unsold as happened in Australia. But we also don’t want to see the spectrum sold off for a song. We need to get this right. Time will ensure we do.

“The Government is also ignoring the elephant in the room – the Waitangi Tribunal claim. It needs to respect that process otherwise it risks another asset sales-style appeal to the Supreme Court.

“The use of 4G spectrum will be an incredible boost to our technology and IT industries. We cannot afford to get this wrong,” says Clare Curran.

ENDS

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