The Commerce Commission will hold a four day conference on Wednesday 10 - Friday 12 July, and Monday 15 July, on its two discussion papers relating to its proposed approach under the Telecommunications Act 2001 to determining the cost of the Kiwi Share - now called the telecommunications service obligations (TSO).

The conference is for interested parties to make oral presentations to the Commission and for the Commission to ask questions. Any media representatives interested in attending should contact Jackie Maitland (details below).

The conference will be held at Level 5, CSI House, 166 Featherston Street, Wellington.

The Commission's first paper, TSO Discussion Paper and Practice Note - Cornerstone Issues Paper, released in March this year, contains the Commission's preliminary views on the key conceptual issues associated with administering the TSO regime.

The second paper, TSO Discussion Paper and Practice Note - Implementation Issues Paper, released in April, sets forth more detailed implementation issues associated with measuring the net cost of TSO and allocating this cost among carriers.

Both discussion papers, as well as various submissions, are available at the Commission's website at www.comcom.govt.nz/telecommunications.

Agenda for the TSO Conference

Chair: Douglas Webb

Commission Members: Paula Rebstock

Donal Curtin

Wednesday 10 July

9:00 - 9:05 am Opening Address from Douglas Webb

9:05 - 10:45 am Vodafone

11:00 - 1:00 pm Vodafone

2:00 - 2:15 pm TUANZ

2:15 - 3:00 pm WalkerWireless

3:00 - 3:30pm Telecom

3:45 - 5:00 pm Telecom

Thursday 11 July

8:30 am - 10:45 am Telecom

11:00 am - 1:00 pm Telecom

2:00 pm - 3:45 pm Telecom

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm Telecom

Friday 12 July

9:00 am - 10:45 am TelstraClear

11:00 am - 1:00 pm TelstraClear

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm TelstraClear

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm TelstraClear

Monday 15 July

9:00 am - 10:45 am Telecom

11:00 am - 1:00 pm Telecom

Media contact: Jackie Maitland, Communications Manager

Phone work (04) 924 3708, mobile 029 924 3708

The Commission's media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz