The minister says customers should be encouraged to move to the fibre network as soon as possible, but only in Chorus’s fibre areas. In the LFCs’ areas she says Chorus can cheerfully pocket price to compete with them. Which is, it Minister? Fibre above all else or Chorus above all else?
The GCSB bill is about to pass with a majority of one and a groundswell of opposition. But where did this train of events begin? You’ll be surprised to learn it started in the early 1990s and is the end round in a very long game indeed.
Why is the Commerce Commission pressing on with its review of wholesale prices? Simple really, it’s the law. The same law the Minister is ignoring.
The government has rewarded Chorus by taking money slated for users and giving it to Chorus shareholders. In doing so, it has set a precedent for intervention in the affairs of the regulator that can not go unnoticed.
The government’s Telco Review discussion document is out and not only sidelines the Commerce Commission’s role as regulator but takes away any savings we could have had. The biggest question is, why?
New Zealand’s export earnings are almost exclusively based on dairying and our ability to sell milk powder in China. That’s all at risk now, on a scale that we should be comparing to an outbreak of foot and mouth. Why are we so dependent on one company for our country’s economic future?
The government’s track record on looking after private information is not very good. Should we really be considering giving them more access to our information or should we be demanding they review their entire approach to our data before giving them any additional powers?
The Australians have concluded their inquiry into pricing of goods, both online and real, and released a set of recommendations that are gob-smacking in their extent. Meanwhile, in New Zealand…
US-based companies cannot legally comply with the government’s proposed GCSB and TICS bills and will have to make a call – follow US law or follow NZ law. Which way do you think they’ll go?
The government has released its first ICT sector report. How do we fare as a nation and are we achieving our potential when it comes to the digital economy?
