EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999
Universal Service Areas Determination (No. 1) 2001 (Amendment No. 1 of 2001)
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
This Determination is one of a series of instruments that give effect to the Government’s decision to pilot multi-provider competition in the supply of the universal service obligation (USO). The objective of this decision is to bring about greater competition in the supply of USO services and thus deliver greater service choice and better service standards for regional consumers.
On 23 August 2000 the Government announced USO contestability would be piloted in two regions located in:
- central-west and south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia; and
- north-east New South Wales and inland south-east Queensland.
The Universal Service Areas Determination (No. 1) 2001 (Amendment No. 1 of 2001) amends the Universal Service Areas Determination (No. 1) 2001 to determine a further 15 universal service areas in the New South Wales – Queensland pilot area in which the USO relating to the standard telephone service is made contestable.
Clause 1 – Name of Determination
Clause 1 provides for the citation of the Determination.
Clause 2 – Commencement
Clause 2 provides that the Determination commences on 1 July 2001.
Clause 3 – Variation
Clause 3 provides that the Universal Service Areas Determination (No. 1) 2001 made by the Minister on 11 April 2001 and notified in the Gazette on 26 April 2001 is varied as set out in Schedule 1 to the Determination.
Schedule 1 – Amendments
Item [1]
After the table under paragraph (a) of Schedule 1 Universal service areas, another table is inserted which determines a further 15 universal service areas in the New South Wales Queensland pilot area. Each universal service area is described by a group of census collection districts, which together comprise the universal service area.
Under clause 4 of the Contestable Service Obligation Determination (No. 1) 2001 the standard telephone service is determined as a contestable service obligation in these universal service areas from 1 July 2001.
Item [2]
After Schedule 2, Schedule 3 is inserted. Schedule 3 consists of a map indicating the location of the additional 15 universal service areas.