Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE

National Broadband Network
Request for submissions on regulatory issues

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Hon Stephen Conroy today invited industry and public interest groups to provide submissions on regulatory issues associated with the National Broadband Network.

“Today marks a major step towards delivering on the Government’s election commitment to enable world-class, high-speed broadband for all Australians,” Senator Conroy said.

The Government today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to facilitate the roll-out of the National Broadband Network that will deliver minimum speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98% of Australian homes and businesses.

“In addition to an investment of up to $4.7 billion, the Government is prepared to consider changes to existing telecommunications regulations, to facilitate the roll-out of the National Broadband Network,” Senator Conroy said.

“We recognise the critical importance of future telecommunications regulatory settings, including ongoing consumer safeguards, to ensure the best outcomes for all Australians and the competitiveness of the economy.”

The submissions will be due one month prior to the closing date for National Broadband Network proposals. All regulatory submissions will be made available to National Broadband Network proponents, to assist in the development of proposals. The Panel of Experts, who will be assessing the proposals, will also be able to consider these submissions before making its recommendation to Government.

The Government will make submissions publicly available, but reserves the right to not publish submissions or parts of submissions where it considers it appropriate to do so for confidentiality or other reasons.

Submissions must be received by 3.00pm AEST 25 June 2008. All submissions are to be provided to regulatory@dbcde.gov.au

Enquiries about the call for submissions on regulatory issues should be directed to regulatory@dbcde.gov.au. Any enquiries about the RFP should be directed to nationalbroadbandnetwork@dbcde.gov.au 

11 April 2008

Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457