Pursuant to clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act 2001 ("the Act"), the Commerce Commission gives public notice that it is publishing a draft report under section 64 and Schedule 3 of the Act and is seeking submissions on the report.
Section 64 of the Act requires the Commerce Commission to deliver a report to the Minister of Communications into whether or not each of the following services should become a designated or a specified service under the Act:
? Access to the unbundled elements of Telecom's local loop network.
? Access to the unbundled elements of, and interconnection with, Telecom's fixed Public Data Network.
The Commission commenced its review into unbundling on 10 April 2003 with the publication of an issues paper.
On 4 September 2003, pursuant to clause 1 (3) of Schedule 3 of the Act, the Commission gave public notice that it
was commencing an additional investigation into unbundling elements of Telecom's telecommunications network under Schedule 3 to the Act.
Under clause 1 (1) of Schedule 3 to the Act, the Commission may on its own initiative commence an investigation into whether or not Schedule 1 to the Act should be altered in any of the ways set out in sections 65 to 67 of the Act if the Commission is satisfied there are reasonable grounds for an investigation into the matter.
The Commission was satisfied that reasonable grounds existed.
The draft report covers the Commission's proposed alteration under both section 64 and the additional
Schedule 3 investigation.
The closing date for submissions on the draft report is Thursday, 16 October 2003.
Pursuant to clause 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 of the Act, the Commission will be holding a public hearing on the draft report between 28 and 31 October 2003.
A copy of the Commission's draft report can be downloaded from the Commission's web site at:
http://www.comcom.govt.nz/telecommunications/localloop.cfm
Inquiries regarding this review can be directed to Alex Cheetham, Chief Adviser, Network Access Group, by telephone on (04) 924 3686.
Date of Decision: 15 September 2003.
COMMERCE COMMISSION.