Universal Service Obligation legislative reform for transition to the National Broadband Network
On 23 June 2011 the government sought public comment on a proposed legislative reform package via the release of the discussion paper—Universal Service Obligation legislative reform for transition to the National Broadband Network. This universal service reform legislation passed the Parliament on 21 March 2012, and establishes the institutional, funding and levy arrangements necessary for the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA) to administer contracts for the delivery of the universal service obligations and other public interest services from 1 July 2012. The discussion paper below is provided for reference purposes.
Discussion paper—Universal Service Obligation legislative reform for transition to the National Broadband Network (PDF, 517 KB) 
Discussion paper—Universal Service Obligation legislative reform for transition to the National Broadband Network (RTF, 2.7 MB)
Public consultation in response to the discussion paper closed 8 August 2011. Submissions for this consultation were received from the following bodies.
- AAPT (PDF, 65 KB)
- Australian Communication Exchange (PDF, 485 KB)
- Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (PDF, 121 KB)
- Cape York Digital Network (PDF, 479 KB)
- Inmarsat (PDF, 698 KB)
- Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (PDF, 3 MB)
- Macquarie Telecom (PDF, 451 KB)
- National Emergency Communications Working Group—Australia and New Zealand (PDF, 137 KB)
- National Farmers’ Federation (PDF, 137 KB)
- Optus (PDF, 411 KB)
- Primus Telecom (PDF, 127 KB)
- Queensland Government (PDF, 675 KB)
- Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (PDF, 267 KB)
- TransACT (PDF, 112 KB)
- Vodafone Hutchinson Australia (PDF, 44 KB)
- WestWood Spice (PDF, 739 KB)
