As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's telecommunications chief, Michael Cosgrave wields a hefty punch in the national broadband network debate. He talked exclusively with ZDNet.com.au on regulation in this time of change.

The competition regulator will be advising the expert panel considering the proposals for the government's $4.7 billion national broadband network.

As the regulatory framework for the network is still lying wide open, with decisions such as whether the winning bidder should be structurally or operationally separated yet to be made, the ACCC's voice will make its mark.

It has had to consider regulatory submissions from various parties and will need to make decisions wisely, while bidder Telstra wants the regulator to step away from the network, rival Terria wants the opposite.

Meanwhile issues of backhaul pricing and the access to exchanges have challenged the commission, before the network has even started construction.

In this exclusive four-part video interview with ZDNet.com.au, conducted before his speech at Broadband Australia 2008, Michael Cosgrave helped shed some light onto these issues.

• 

  ACCC: We have to be flexible

  The ACCC is standing before a chasm, with the lack of certainty around regulation of the national broadband network putting a question mark beside the commissions' future role.

• 

  ACCC's eye on Telstra

  ACCC tele- communications GM Michael Cosgrave talks about the recording rule the ACCC slammed on Telstra.

• 

  Our prices are right: ACCC

  Michael Cosgrove, ACCC tele- communications GM defends the commission's pricing models.

• 

  Backhaul pricing not on ACCC's plate

  Despite Tasmania and the Northern Territory grumbling about excessive backhaul pricing, the ACCC said it hasn't received any formal complaints.