WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as
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CONTENTS
Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Fees) Termination
Bill 1996
Date Introduced: 5 December 1996
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Communications and the Arts
Commencement: The Act (including the amendments
set out in Schedule 1) commences on the day on which it receives
the Royal Assent.The amendment set out in Schedule 2 commences on 1
July 1998.
This Bill is a part of a package of Bills, the purpose of which
is to implement a new regulatory framework for the
telecommunications industry.The purpose of this Bill is to impose a
licence fee in respect of general and mobile telecommunications
licences for the financial year ended 1 July 1997 and to increase
the limit on licence fees to allow for recovery of the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) costs attributable to
competition matters arising from its new telecommunications
role.
The International Telecommunications Union is a United Nations
agency which deals with international cooperation in the use of
telecommunications and of the radiofrequency spectrum.The ITU is
involved in the establishment of standards and the development of
world telecommunications.The government makes annual contributions
to the ITU.
Section 6 of the Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Fees) Act
1991 presently limits the total licence fees payable by all licence
holders to the sum of:
- all amounts appropriated for the purposes of AUSTEL, and
- the amount, determined under the regulations to be the
proportion of the Commonwealth's contribution to the ITU that is to
be recovered from carriers.
Under the Telecommunications Act 1996, the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will take over the
competition functions of AUSTEL.
Schedule 1 of this Bill amends the Telecommunications (Carrier
Licence Fees) Act 1991:
-
to impose the carrier licence fee for 1 July 1997.Fees for 1
July 1998 (and after that date) will be imposed under the
Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) Act 1996; and
-
to provide that the total licence fees payable by carriers under
section 6 of the Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Fees) Act 1991
should include:
-
- an amount representing the proportion of the ACCC's costs
attributable to its telecommunications functions and powers (in
addition to the cost of AUSTEL), and
Schedule 2 of this bill repeals the
Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Fees) Act 1991 with
effect from 1 July 1998.That Act will be "replaced" by the
Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) Act 1996.
Lee Jones
5 February 1997
Bills Digest Service
Information and Research Services
This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other
sources should be consulted to determine whether the Bill has been
enacted and, if so, whether the subsequent Act reflects further
amendments.
IRS staff are available to discuss the paper's contents
with Senators and Members and their staff but not with members of
the public.
ISSN 1323-9031
Commonwealth of Australia 1996
Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the
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of the Australian Parliament in the course of their official
duties.
Published by the Department of the Parliamentary Library,
1997.
This page was prepared by the Parliamentary Library,
Commonwealth of Australia
Last updated: 26 March 1997
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