Summary

Introduced with the Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2017, the bill amends the: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Telecommunications Act 1997 to: remove regulation of networks servicing small business customers; enable new superfast networks to operate on a functionally separated basis with the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC); enable the ACCC to exempt small start-up networks from separation regulation; provide that all services supplied on networks that are wholesale-only or functionally separated will be subject to clear non-discrimination obligations; amend the enforcement regime, including conferring additional powers on the ACCC; and introduce a statutory infrastructure provider regime; Carrier Licence Conditions (Networks supplying Superfast Carriage Services to Residential Customers) Declaration 2014 and Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015 in relation to sunsetting arrangements; Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Telecommunications Act 1997 and Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to implement the administrative arrangements for the Regional Broadband Scheme; and Telecommunications Act 1997 to extend the ‘designated day’ for the purposes of Telstra’s structural separation to 1 January 2020. Also repeals four declarations.