Nov 09 5
Do we need the legislative blackmail?
Posted by Phil Dobbie @ 12:39 6 comments
Play or download the Twisted Wire podcast below:
The Senate Standing Committee Inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment has already come out and said that it thinks the proposed changes to the structure of the industry are a good thing.
Despite Senator Nick Minchin's claim that it's all legislative blackmail, the report concluded that "while further examination of issues raised above is warranted, the committee believes that the passage of the Bill should not be delayed".
So hang on, why the rush? As you'll hear in today's Twisted Wire, which eavesdrops on the committee's public hearing in Melbourne last month, Telstra says it is close to having an IT system capable of providing an equivalent service to its wholesale customers as it does to its own retail division.
There's also the question as to why, if we separate Telstra, do we need public investment into the NBN? Wouldn't a structurally (or functionally) separated Telstra invest more in infrastructure and manage the build themselves? I ask if it isn't all a bit "arse about"?
You'll hear from the witnesses at the public inquiry held in Melbourne on 13 October:
- Geoff Booth, group managing director, NBN Engagement, Telstra
- Tony Warren, executive director, Regulatory Affairs, Telstra
- Andrew Sheridan, general manager, Interconnect and Economic Regulation, Optus
- David Havyatt, manager, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Unwired
- Matt Healy, national executive, Regulatory & Government, Macquarie Telecom
- John Horan, general manager, Legal and Regulatory, Primus Telecom
- Dale Clapperton, legal counsel, Pipe Networks
Be sure to let us have your thoughts too, in the Talkback section at the end of this post.
You can also read the transcript of the full day's hearing (PDF) or read the Senate inquiry report on the Bill.
Oct 09 29
Senate Select finds Tassie is in the dark
Posted by Phil Dobbie @ 11:01 0 comments
Next month the Senate Select Committee on the NBN will table its final report. It will reflect the views of 100 or so submitted documents and a series of public hearings. ...Read more
Oct 09 22
NBN should be free, says economist
Posted by Phil Dobbie @ 10:42 13 comments
Joshua Gans from the Melbourne Business School says the media are missing the main game when they keep harping on about the need for the NBN to make a commercial return. ...Read more
Oct 09 15
Senate broadband hearing - NBN at what cost?
Posted by Phil Dobbie @ 12:43 14 comments
Debate over the National Broadband Network is heating up. Is it economically feasible? Do we want to avoid two major networks? What will be built? How will it be funded? There are a lot of questions and, as you'll hear from the NBN's Mike Quigley, a lot of those questions still don't have answers. ...Read more
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