DOCSLIB.ORG

Interim Report: Senate Select Committee on the National

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Interim Report: Senate Select Committee on the National The Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network Interim report December 2008 © Commonwealth of Australia ISBN: 978-0-642-71991-1 This document was printed by the Senate Printing Unit, Department of the Senate, Parliament House, Canberra. Members Of The Committee Members Senator Mary Jo Fisher, Chair, LP, SA Senator Fiona Nash, Deputy Chair, NATS, NSW Senator Simon Birmingham, LP, SA Senator Kate Lundy, ALP, ACT Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald, LP, QLD Senator Glenn Sterle, ALP, WA *Senator Simon Birmingham, LP, SA was Deputy Chair of the Committee from 27 June 2008 to 25 September 2008. Participating Members Senator Mark Bishop, ALP, WA Senator Scott Ludlam, AG, WA Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin, LP, SA Secretariat Ms Alison Kelly Secretary Ms Kyriaki Mechanicos Senior Research Officer Ms Meredith Bond Executive Assistant Ms Cassimah Mackay Executive Assistant Suite S1. 61 Telephone: (02) 6277 3635 Parliament House Fax: (02) 6277 5794 CANBERRA ACT 2600 Email: [email protected] iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Members Of The Committee ........................................................................... iii Abbreviations ................................................................................................... vii Glossary...............................................................................................................xi List of Committee Comments and Conclusions............................................xix Chapter 2..............................................................................................................xix Chapter 3...............................................................................................................xx Chapter 4...............................................................................................................xx Chapter 1 .............................................................................................................1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Referral of the inquiry ............................................................................................1 Conduct of the inquiry to date................................................................................1 Background to the inquiry......................................................................................2 Structure of this report............................................................................................8 Chapter 2 ...........................................................................................................11 Framework for the Request for Proposals...........................................................11 Introduction ..........................................................................................................11 What is broadband? ..............................................................................................11 Specified coverage of the NBN............................................................................14 Definition of open access .....................................................................................20 Funding estimates and allocation .........................................................................27 The RFP process itself..........................................................................................34 Chapter 3 ...........................................................................................................39 Regulatory Revolution Required? ........................................................................39 Introduction ..........................................................................................................39 v Seizing the unique opportunity to make regulatory change.................................40 Chapter 4 ...........................................................................................................67 Deployment..............................................................................................................67 Introduction ..........................................................................................................67 Dissenting Report by Government Senators..................................................85 The Importance of Broadband..............................................................................85 Howard Government’s Broadband Legacy..........................................................87 The National Broadband Network Process ..........................................................95 Contradictions in Recommendations of Majority Report ..................................102 Dissenting Report by Australian Greens Senators......................................111 APPENDIX 1 ...................................................................................................115 Terms of Reference...............................................................................................115 APPENDIX 2 ...................................................................................................119 Commonwealth’s Objectives for the National Broadband Network...............119 National Broadband Network Evaluation Criteria...........................................121 APPENDIX 3 ...................................................................................................123 Submissions Received...........................................................................................123 APPENDIX 4 ...................................................................................................125 Witnesses Who Appeared Before the Committee .............................................125 vi Abbreviations ABG Australian Broadband Guarantee ACCC Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACMA Australian Communications and Media Authority ADSL Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line ADSL2 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line version 2 ADSL2+ Extended Bandwidth ADSL2 AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone System BAF Building Australia Fund BCA Business Council of Australia BSL Broadband Service Locator CAN Customer Access Network CCC Competitive Carriers Coalition CCF Cross Connect Facility CEG Communications Expert Group COAG Council of Australian Governments CSG: Customer Service Guarantee DBCDE Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy DCITA Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification DSL Digital Subscriber Line DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer EFA Electronic Frontiers Australia EOI Expression of Interest ESA Exchange Serving Area vii FTTH Fibre-to-the-Home FTTN Fibre-to-the-Node FTTP Fibre-to-the-Premise HiBIS Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme HFC Hybrid Fibre Coaxial HSPA High Speed Packet Access ICAAN Internet Corporation for assigned Names and Numbers ICT Information and communications technology Integrated Services Digital Network or Isolated Subscriber Digital ISDN Network IP Internet Protocol IPA Infrastructure Partnerships Australia IPTV Internet Protocol Television IRCA Indigenous Remote Communications Australia ISP Internet Service Provider LTE Long Term Evolution LTIE Long-term interests of end-users Megabyte – a million bytes; one byte is a unit of binary information MB comprising 8 bits. Mbps Megabit per second – a million bits per second MHz Megahertz NBN National Broadband Network NGN Next Generation Network OAN Open Access Network OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OPEL Optus and Elders Communication viii POP Point of Presence POTS Plain Old telephone Service P2P Point to Point or Peer to Peer PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RFP Request for Proposal RIM Remote Integrated Multiplexer RSP Retail Service Provider RTIRC Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee SA South Australia SAU Special Access Undertaking SMEs Small and medium sized enterprises STD Subscriber Trunk Dialling STS Standard Telephone Service The department The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy The Panel The Panel of Experts TIO Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman TPA Trade Practices Act 1974 ULLS Unconditioned/Unbundled Local Loop Service USO Universal Service Obligation VDSL Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line VoIP Voice-over-Internet Protocol WA Western Australia WA CCI Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA DOIR Western Australia Department of Industry and Resources WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ix Glossary Access Network That part of a communications network which connects subscribers to their immediate service provider. It is contrasted with the core network. Active Optical Network A network in which the passive splitting point is replaced with an Optical Line Distribution unit which is a powered unit making it possible to have a higher bit rate on individual routes over longer distances than on a passive optical network. Backhaul The backhaul portion of the network comprises the intermediate links between the core, or backbone, of the network and the small sub networks at the "edge" of the entire hierarchical network. For example, while cell phones communicating with a single cell tower constitute a local sub network, the connection between the cell tower and the rest of the world begins with a backhaul link to the core of the telephone company's network (via a point of presence). Bandwidth The capacity for a given system
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annual Report
    08 Annual Report iinet.net.au iiNet Limited ACN 068 628 937 ABN 48 068 628 937 Contents Financial Calendar and Corporate Information 1 About iiNet 3 iiNet History 17 Financial Highlights 19 Operational Highlights 20 Corporate Highlights 21 Education and Community Outreach 23 Chairman’s Review 25 Managing Director’s Report 29 Directors’ Report 35 Corporate Governance Statement 65 Financial Report 71 Directors’ Declaration 139 Independent Auditor’s Report 141 Shareholder Information 143 Financial Calendar Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of iiNet Limited will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, 297 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, on Monday the 24th of November, 2008 at 10:30am. Other key dates in the 2009 financial year: • Annual report and Notice of Annual General Meeting mailed to shareholders October 2008 • Half-year results February 2009 • Full-year results August 2009 Corporate Information Directors Michael Smith Chairman Michael Malone Managing Director Andrew Milner Director (non-executive) Peter James Director (non-executive) Paul Broad Director (non-executive) Tony Grist Director (non-executive) David Grant Director (non-executive) Company Secretary David Buckingham Principal Place of Business and Registered Office iiNet Limited Durack Centre, Level 6 263 Adelaide Terrace Perth WA 6000 Share Registry Computershare Investor Services Pty Ltd Level 2 Reserve Bank Building 45 St George’s Terrace Perth WA 6000 Telephone: +61 8 9323 2000 Internet: www.computershare.com.au Stock Exchange Listings iiNet Limited’s ordinary shares are quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX: IIN). Auditors Ernst & Young The Ernst & Young Building 11 Mounts Bay Road Perth WA 6000 1 iiNet Annual Report 2008 Financial Calendar and Corporate Information 2 08 About iiNet We’ve come a long way since our days of working out of a suburban garage in the early 90s.
    [Show full text]
  • ITU Operational Bulletin No. 831 – 3
    International ITU Operational Bulletin Telecommunication Union No. 831 1.III.2005 (Information received by 22 February 2005) Contents Page General information Lists annexed to the ITU Operational Bulletin: Note from TSB.............................................................. 2 Approval of ITU-T Recommendations................................................................................................... 3 International Call Sign Series and Maritime Identification Digits (MID): China, Armenia....................... 5 Assignment of Signalling Area/Network Codes (SANC) (ITU-T Recommendation Q.708 (03/99)): Ireland ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Telephone Service: Australia (Australian Communications Authority (ACA), Melbourne) ........................................... 5 Burkina Faso (Autorité Nationale de Régulation des Télécommunications (ARTEL), Ouagadougou)........................................................................................................................... 15 Denmark (National IT and Telecom Agency (NITA), Copenhagen) ............................................... 15 Egypt (National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Giza)....................................................... 15 Gabon (Agence de Régulation des Télécommunications (ARTEL), Libreville) ................................ 17 Guyana (Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co. Ltd, Georgetown).................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Telecommunications and Community Wellbeing: a Review of the Literature on Access and Affordability for Low-Income and Disadvantaged Groups
    Telecommunications and Community Wellbeing: a review of the literature on access and affordability for low-income and disadvantaged groups Tony Eardley, Jasmine Bruce and Gerard Goggin SPRC Report 09/09 University of New South Wales Consortium Social Policy Research Centre Journalism and Media Research Centre July 2009 TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING For a full list of SPRC Publications see, www.sprc.unsw.edu.au or contact: Publications, SPRC, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Telephone: +61 (2) 9385 7802 Fax: +61 (2) 9385 7838 Email: [email protected] ISSN 1446 4179 ISBN 978-0-7334-2796-1 Submitted: March 2009 Published: July 2009 TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING Authors Dr Tony Eardley, Jasmine Bruce (Social Policy Research Centre) and Professor Gerard Goggin (Journalism and Media Research Centre) Contact details Dr Tony Eardley, Senior Research Fellow, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, ph 02 9385 7826, fax 02 9385 7838, email [email protected] Acknowledgements and disclaimer The authors would like to thank Isabel Yaya for additional research assistance. We are also grateful for the advice and support of the Low Income Measures Assessment Committee, especially those of its Chair, Chris Dodds. In particular we would like to thank Telstra’s Group Manager for Consumer Affairs, Robert Morsillo, who initiated this project, for his helpful and knowledgeable commentary on earlier drafts of the report. Any errors of fact and all views put forward in the report remain those of the authors and not those of either LIMAC or Telstra. Suggested Citations: Eardley, T., Bruce, J.
    [Show full text]
  • A Daily Bulletin Listing Decisions of Superior Courts of Australia Compiled for Those in Insurance
    BENCHMARK A Daily Bulletin listing Decisions of Superior Courts of Australia Compiled for those in Insurance Thursday 24 April 2008 Riley v Repatriation Commission [2008] FCA 531 Federal Court of Australia Edmonds J (at Sydney) Defence & war – Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) - applicant had served in Australian Army from February 1965 until February 1968 – he served in Vietnam from June 1966 until May 1967 - appeal from Administrative Appeals Tribunal affirming decision of a delegate of Repatriation Commission that applicant's chondromalacia patellae of both knees had not been related to his service – material must raise reasonable hypothesis connecting veteran’s injury or disease with circumstances of service – findings of fact against claim must be made beyond reasonable doubt – no impermissible resolution of possible conflicts in evidence or impermissible findings of fact in Tribunal’s decision - appeal dismissed. Riley Frippery Pty Ltd v Booth, Environmental Defenders Office (Qld) Inc & Ors [2008] FCA 514 Federal Court of Australia Collier J (at Brisbane) Costs – notice of discontinuance – application by respondents that costs be awarded on indemnity basis – held that justice of case required respondents’ costs be awarded on indemnity basis - applicants’ claims were of vexatious & frivolous nature. Frippery Benchmark is prepared daily by A R Conolly & Company Lawyers, Sydney e: [email protected] t: 02 9333 3600 - 2 - Lime Telecom Pty Ltd v Powertel Limited [No.2] [2008] NSWSC 362 Supreme Court of New South Wales McDougall
    [Show full text]
  • The Economics of Next Generation Access - Final Report
    WIK-Consult • Report Study for the European Competitive Telecommunication Association (ECTA) The Economics of Next Generation Access - Final Report Authors: Dieter Elixmann Dragan Ilic Dr. Karl-Heinz Neumann Dr. Thomas Plückebaum WIK-Consult GmbH Rhöndorfer Str. 68 53604 Bad Honnef Germany Bad Honnef, September 10, 2008 The Economics of Next Generation Access I Contents Tables IV Figures VII Abbreviations X Preface XIII Executive Summary XV 1 Introduction 1 2 Literature review 3 2.1 OPTA: Business cases for broadband access 3 2.1.1 OPTA: Business case for sub-loop unbundling in the Netherlands 3 2.1.2 OPTA: Business case for fibre-based access in the Netherlands 5 2.2 Comreg: Business case for sub-loop unbundling in Dublin 8 2.3 BIPT: The business case for sub-loop unbundling in Belgium 10 2.4 Analysys: Fibre in the Last Mile 12 2.5 Avisem studies for ARCEP 15 2.5.1 Sharing of the terminal part of FTTH 16 2.5.2 Intervention of local authorities as facilitators 18 2.6 AT Kearney: FTTH for Greece 19 2.7 ERG opinion on regulatory principles of NGA 23 2.8 JP Morgan: The fibre battle 26 2.9 OECD 28 2.9.1 Public rights of way for fibre deployment to the home 29 2.9.2 Developments in fibre technologies and investment 32 3 Experiences in non-European countries 44 3.1 Australia 44 3.1.1 Overall broadband market penetration 44 3.1.2 Current broadband market structure 45 3.1.3 Envisaged nationwide “Fibre to the Node” network 47 3.1.4 Regulation, wholesale services 50 3.2 Japan 51 3.2.1 Overall broadband market penetration 51 II The Economics of
    [Show full text]
  • Toward Universal Broadband Access in Australia
    CASE STUDY TOWARD UNIVERSAL BROADBAND ACCESS IN AUSTRALIA Colin Oliver November 2009 Toward Universal Broadband Access in Australia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This case study has been prepared by Mr. Colin Oliver, ITU Expert within the framework of an ITU-NTC workshop on Universal Access and Rural Broadband held in October, 2009. It has been developed with the support of National Telecommunications Commission, Thailand and in consultation with the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Government of Australia. The views expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ITU or its membership. National Telecommunications Commission, Thailand 2 Toward Universal Broadband Access in Australia TABLE OF CONTENT 1.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................4 2.0 Universal Service Policy.................................................................................................................11 3.0 Regional and rural services............................................................................................................18 4.0 Development of broadband policy and programs .........................................................................22 5.0 National Broadband Network .........................................................................................................28 6.0 Concluding comments....................................................................................................................43
    [Show full text]
  • An Aapt Internet Solution Service Schedule
    AN AAPT INTERNET SOLUTION SERVICE SCHEDULE 1 October 2008 AAPT Permanent Internet Connection Service Schedule This Service Schedule forms part of the Agreement between Us and You and cannot be used as a stand alone agreement. Any terms defined in the Standard Services Agreement and the Service Order Form have the same meaning in this Service Schedule. We will be Your exclusive provider of the Service described in this Service Schedule. To place an order for this Service, please sign and return to Us the Service Order Form provided to You. Page 2 of 29 1 October 2008 AAPT Permanent Internet Connection Service Schedule PART 1 – SERVICE DESCRIPTION 4 1.0 Description 4 2.0 Description of Service Components 7 PART 2 – CHARGES 19 PART 3 – SERVICE LEVELS 20 1.0 Service Attributes 20 2.0 Service Restoration Rebate 26 PART 4 – ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS 27 1.0 Transfer of Services to Us 27 Page 3 of 29 1 October 2008 AAPT Permanent Internet Connection Service Schedule Part 1 – Service Description 1.0 Description 1.1 INTRODUCTION A permanent connection is designed to provide an end-to-end broadband access solution as a delivery method for Internet access. Permanent connection provides a single machine or a whole network 24 hour, 7 day a week, connectivity (in accordance with the Service Levels in Part 3). The Service offers a connection from Your premises into the AAPT IP Network (which is part of Our Network), allowing communication to the Internet and between Your premises in the form of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)-based IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
    [Show full text]
  • Spark Starts Here
    Spark starts here. Spark New Zealand | Annual Report 2014 WorldReginfo - 40c14465-abf3-4cda-a9e2-79164113ab68 Page 1 SECTION 1: SPARK NEW ZEALAND STARTS HERE SECTION 3: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE The Company changed its name from Telecom Spark New Zealand starts here 1 Independent auditor’s report 45 Corporation of New Zealand Limited to Spark New Zealand Limited on 8 August 2014. Spark is more than a name Spark New Zealand Performance 2014 8 Financial statements 46 ARBN 050 611 277 Chairman and Managing Director report 10 Notes to the financial statements 52 This report is dated 22 August 2014 and is signed change. It reflects enormous Board of Directors 14 SECTION 4: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE on behalf of the Board of Spark New Zealand Leadership Team 18 Governance and disclosures 96 Limited by Mark Verbiest, Chairman, and SECTION 2: SPARK NEW ZEALAND PERFORMANCE Glossary 106 Simon Moutter, Managing Director. change for our customers Key performance indicators 22 Directory 107 Group result 24 and our business. Spark Home, Mobile & Business 26 KEY DATES Spark Digital 28 Annual Meeting Mark Verbiest At Spark, our ambition is Spark Connect 30 7 November 2014 Chairman Spark Ventures 32 Half-year results announcement Capital management and dividends 34 to be a winning business, 19 February 2015 Spark People 38 Spark Foundation 40 Financial year-end Simon Moutter inspired by customers to Environment 42 30 June 2015 Managing Director unleash the potential in all New Zealanders. Join our journey. WorldReginfo - 40c14465-abf3-4cda-a9e2-79164113ab68 Page 2 Spark New Zealand Annual Report 2014 Spark starts here. Page 3 Spark is a catalyst to an internal Winning by our Turnaround culture of winning.
    [Show full text]
  • The Knowledge Economy in a Car Dependent Perth, Western Australia: the Story of Knowledge Intensification and Urban Sprawl
    Paper for Special session‐ Cities, regions and the digital economy: new challenges and opportunities RSA Delft 2012 The knowledge economy in a car dependent Perth, Western Australia: The story of knowledge intensification and urban sprawl Michael Kane Curtin University Western Australia Paper for Special session‐ Cities, regions and the digital economy: new challenges and opportunities RSA Delft 2012 - 1 - The knowledge economy in a car dependent Perth, Western Australia: The story of knowledge intensification and urban sprawl Michael Kane Curtin University [email protected] Part 1- Introduction Worldwide the knowledge economy and information communication technology are underpinning economic activity in post industrial economies. ICT and the knowledge economy are characterised by urban proximity and agglomeration, with strong links between ICT, spatial distribution of knowledge workers, urban density and productivity. The knowledge economy requires an increase in the knowledge intensity of capital, labour, products and services. Cities in post industrial economies, it is argued, are characterised and driven by this intensification of knowledge. This paper argues that there are three interrelated factors of knowledge intensification in the modern economy: intensification or agglomeration of knowledge economic activity; intensification of knowledge within human capital knowledge ie within individual workers and where those workers work and reside; intensification of knowledge and data within ICT systems and infrastructure.
    [Show full text]
  • Clear Direction
    MACQUARIE TELECOM ANNUAL REPORT 2008 MACQUARIE TELECO MACQUARIE macquarietelecom.com Clear Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Level 20 Level 1 Level 10 Level 10 2 Market Street 441 St Kilda Road 26 Wharf Street 251 Adelaide Terrace M Sydney NSW 2000 Melbourne VIC 3004 Brisbane QLD 4000 Perth WA 6000 T (02) 8221 7777 T (03) 9206 6800 T (07) 3874 2300 T (08) 9229 0000 REPOR ANNUAL F (02) 8221 7788 F (03) 9206 6888 F (07) 3874 2388 F (08) 9229 0088 Hobart Adelaide Canberra Singapore 49 Davey Street 297 Pirie Street Level 7 150 Beach Road direction Hobart TAS 7000 Adelaide SA 5000 54 Marcus Clarke Street #35-00 T (03) 6214 0000 T (08) 8363 9700 Canberra ACT 2600 Gateway West T F (03) 6214 0888 F (08) 8363 9788 T (02) 6257 6277 Singapore 189720 2008 F (02) 6257 7188 T 0011 65 6580 7383 F 0011 65 6580 7388 Intellicentre Toll Free numbers Level 16 T 1800 653 053 477 Pitt Street F 1800 676 373 Sydney NSW 2000 T (02) 8204 5100 F (02) 8204 5188 COMPANY INFORMATION Thank you for your continued investment. CONTENTS Macquarie Telecom delivers a range of hosting, data, Company Snapshot 1 voice and mobile services specifically to the business Company Highlights 2 and government market. Over the years, we’ve listened Financial Highlights 4 to what businesses really want from their telco. As Chairman’s Message 6 you’d expect, every one is different. That’s why we DIRECTORS MACQUARIE ASSIST ENVIRONMENT NOTE Chief Executive’s Message 8 Robert Kaye T 1800 789 999 This report is printed haven’t built our business around “one size fits all”.
    [Show full text]
  • NBN Options for a Coalition Government
    NBN options for a Coalition Government March 2013 www.allenovery.com | www.ventureconsulting.com 2 NBN options for a Coalition Government | 2013 © Allen & Overy 2013 © Venture Consulting 2013 March 2013 3 Contents 1_Executive Summary 8 1.1_Policy objectives for a new NBN 10 1.2_Summary of options 14 2_Policy and political context 20 2.1_An inflexion point for Australia’s communications policy 22 2.2_The arrival of “Scenario B” 23 2.3_The changing electoral appeal of the NBN 24 2.4_A brief history of the NBN 25 2.5_Labor’s current policy settings for the NBN 28 2.6_NBN deployment performance to date 30 3_The current Coalition policy and the next 18 months 32 3.1_Stated Coalition policy objectives 34 3.2_Before the Federal Election 36 3.3_The first 100 days of a new Federal Government 38 3.4_The five critical issues that the Coalition will need to address 39 3.5_Questions that the Coalition has to answer 40 4_The market for broadband services 44 4.1_Economic issues raised by the NBN business plan 46 4.2_The lack of a fibre premium 47 4.3_The relationship between price, demand and externalities 49 www.allenovery.com www.ventureconsulting.com 4 NBN options for a Coalition Government | 2013 4.4_A mass market fibre network assumes mass market demand 51 4.5_The inevitability of further price regulation 54 5_The regulatory model for an NBN policy 56 5.1_The case for the NBN as a monopoly 58 5.2_Structural separation and a wholesale only network 60 5.3_Universal broadband access and uniform pricing 61 5.4_Conclusions for a new market structure
    [Show full text]
  • Interim Report: Senate Select Committee on the National
    Chapter 1 Introduction Referral of the inquiry 1.1 On 25 June 2008, the Senate established the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network (the committee) to inquire into and report by 30 March 2009 on: (a) the Government's proposal to partner with the private sector to upgrade parts of the existing network to fibre to provide minimum broadband speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australians on an open access basis; and (b) the implications of the proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) for consumers in terms of: (i) service availability, choice and costs; (ii) competition in telecommunications and broadband services, and (iii) likely consequences for national productivity, investment, economic growth, cost of living and social capital (c) and other related matters. Conduct of the inquiry to date 1.2 The committee advertised the inquiry in The Australian and invited written submission by 15 August 2008; details of the inquiry were placed on the committee's website. 1.3 The full terms of reference for this inquiry are quite extensive and can be found at appendix 1. The Senate placed specific requirements on the conduct of the inquiry, including that the committee should 'request formal submissions that respond directly to the terms of reference' from a number of key stakeholder organisations and Commonwealth departments. 1.4 Letters were written to the named departments and organisations; however all responded by declining the invitation to submit. 1.5 As the committee had not received any submissions by the initial closure date, a number of additional letters were written to relevant organisations inviting submissions.
    [Show full text]