Hon Amy Adams
Minister for Communications

12 July 2016

Telco Act gearing up for 21st Century upgrade

Communications Minister Amy Adams today released an options paper which seeks feedback on the Government’s new ‘utility-style’ model for regulating fixed line communications services after 2020.

“Every aspect of our lives is being transformed by changes to technology, innovation and digital convergence. The regime governing our telecommunications industry is now 15 years old and our review is critical to building a system that supports growth, investment and innovation,” says Ms Adams.

“We want to ensure high quality and affordable broadband services are available for New Zealanders. To achieve this, the Government is proposing to establish a durable and flexible framework that supports competition, innovation, and efficient investment for consumers.”

In April, the Government announced high-level decisions to set up a new utility-style regime for fixed line communications services provided on the Ultra-Fast Broadband network and Chorus’ copper network after 2020. The options paper seeks more detailed feedback from industry and consumer groups on how this new regime will work in practice.

“The new regime is designed to increase long-term certainty in the telecommunications sector and reduce volatility. It also aims to support ongoing innovation and investment which will result in better services for consumers – meaning consistently improving speeds and quality at affordable prices,” says Ms Adams.

“New Zealanders are already benefiting from world-leading broadband connectivity and speeds thanks to the roll-out of Ultra-Fast Broadband and the Rural Broadband Initiative, and this is set to continue with our extensions to these programmes.

“These changes are designed to deliver a more stable and fit-for-purpose regulatory regime, which will deliver better broadband for New Zealanders. I encourage interested parties to provide feedback on the options presented in this paper.”

Submissions on the options paper close on 19 August 2016. For more detail and to make a submission visit: www.mbie.govt.nz/telcoreview.

ENDS

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