The Commerce Commission gives notice, under clause 2(1)(c) of Schedule 2A of the Telecommunications Act 2001 (“Act”), that it has published a draft Copper Withdrawal Code (“Code”) for public consultation.

This notice summarises the draft Code in accordance with section 6(2)(b) of the Act.

Summary

Application

The draft Code applies where Chorus seeks to stop supplying a copper service by complying with the requirements of the Code in relation to stopping the supply of that copper service. It applies to Chorus, relevant fibre service providers, and access seekers.

Purpose

The purpose of the Code is to protect end-users of certain copper services where Chorus seeks to withdraw those services. It does this by setting out minimum consumer protection requirements that Chorus must comply with before Chorus may withdraw a copper service, such that end-users–

• understand Chorus’s process for withdrawal of a copper service, and how this will affect end-users of the copper service;
• have access to information with which to make an informed choice about the telecommunications services they can switch to;
• have reasonable time to prepare for a proposed withdrawal of a copper service;
• who wish to move from a copper service to a fibre service can receive a connection to a fibre service, and that the fibre service provides similar functionality to the copper service.

Key Requirements and Other Provisions

The table below summaries the key minimum requirements and other provisions in the draft Code:

Further Information

Copies of the draft Code, and the supporting draft reasons paper, are available on the Commission’s website at: https://comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/telecommunications/projects/copper-withdrawal-code.

Dated at Wellington this 20th day of May 2020.

COMMERCE COMMISSION.