The Commerce Commission today issued draft determinations for the information disclosure requirements for companies who are building fibre networks as part of the Government's ultra-fast broadband (UFB) initiative.

The companies are Chorus, Enable Networks, Ultrafast Fibre, and Whangarei Local Fibre Company.  

The Commission is required to collect information on the costs and characteristics of the UFB fibre networks for regulatory purposes.

The draft determination proposes that the fibre network companies must supply the Commission with financial and network information annually. The Commission will publish summaries of this information on its website.

The draft determinations and an accompanying consultation paper are available on the Commission's website: www.comcom.govt.nz/information-disclosure-2

Submissions on the consultation paper are due by 15 May 2012. Submissions should be sent to regulation.branch@comcom.govt.nz or to Neville Lord, Chief Advisor, Regulation branch - Telecommunications, Commerce Commission, P O Box 2351, Wellington.

Background

The Telecommunications (TSO, Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2011 introduced a new information disclosure regime applicable to participants in the Government's ultra-fast broadband initiative. The Commission is required to implement these disclosure requirements for all participating local fibre companies (LFCs).

More information on the ultra fast broadband initiative is available at the MED website, www.med.govt.nz.