NBN policy statements
As announced by the Australian Government on 20 June 2010.
Public information campaign
At the time the new fibre-optic network is rolled out by NBN Co Limited, the company (in conjunction with the industry and in consultation with the Commonwealth) will fund and undertake a public information and education campaign. The campaign will inform telecommunication users about the imminent migration of services from the copper-based infrastructure to the fibre-optic infrastructure
The campaign will provide information concerning the timing for provision of new services, the nature of the services, the action that the consumer will need to take, the extent to which existing equipment is reusable, together with the responsibilities of the respective parties (that is, NBN Co, the retail service provider and the consumer) in implementing migration to the new infrastructure. It will include the provision of access by consumers to call centres and websites.
The campaign, which will be developed in consultation with Telstra as the existing infrastructure provider and with the wider industry, will commence prior to commencement of rollout and continue until completion of migration in relevant areas.
Retraining
The government recognises the importance of an available and appropriately-trained workforce for the successful rollout of the NBN. The Commonwealth will provide funding of up to $100 million to Telstra to undertake retraining of relevant employees to enable their transition to employment in deploying and supporting a fibre network. NBN Co will enter into arrangements with Telstra to access the services of the retrained workforce.
Fibre in greenfields
During the period of the NBN rollout, an estimated 1.3 million additional premises will be constructed across Australia.
The government is committed to ensuring that high-speed fibre-optic infrastructure is installed in such new developments. Now, and increasingly into the future, high-speed broadband should be seen as a critical utility service like water, electricity and gas. People that move into new estates should get access to affordable, high-speed broadband as soon as possible. It makes sense to install fibre technology when homes are first built.
Following extensive consultation and consideration of the implementation study recommendations, the government has determined that from 1 January 2011 NBN Co will act as wholesale provider of last resort in new developments constructed within, or adjacent to, NBN Co's long-term fibre footprint. Developers—and, on their own holdings, property owners—will need to cover the costs of trenching and ducting. NBN Co will cover the other costs of installing fibre infrastructure in the development, including backhaul.
During the NBN deployment period, NBN Co may subcontract the rollout and operation of fibre networks in new developments, providing that the networks are built to meet the technical specifications of the NBN and operated on an open-access basis. Ownership of these networks would transfer to NBN Co and form part of the company's open-access wholesale-only network.
Telstra will not be required to provide infrastructure in new developments. However, to ensure that retail services are offered in new estates, Telstra (as retail provider of last resort) will be required to provide standard telephone services to end users in new developments in which retail services are not offered by another service provider.
These arrangements will not prevent developers from using other companies to roll out fibre networks in new developments if they wish, but such networks will need to comply with the technical specifications of the NBN and operate on an open-access basis, and (just like the NBN) offer wholesale services on an equivalent basis.
Telstra will be able to extend its hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network to provide pay TV services only to homes in new developments adjacent to its existing HFC network, as long as a fibre network was provided in the development.
NBN Co's role will apply regardless of whether the Fibre Deployment Bill currently before the parliament is passed. The government will, however, continue to seek the passage of this legislation, amended as necessary to deliver in full the arrangements described above, to ensure all stakeholders have certainty as to their obligations to have fibre installed in new developments.
