The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released its draft decision removing regulation of certain aspects of the existing transmission capacity service declaration.
The draft decision is that specified capital-regional routes, and potentially CBD inter-exchange transmission in the major capital cities, be removed from declaration. In addition, the ACCC has outlined its intention to curtail the existing intercapital monitoring program to focus only on the Melbourne-Adelaide and Adelaide-Perth routes, for a period of 12 months while there is some uncertainty about market structure on these routes.
"Where there is effective competition in particular transmission markets, the ACCC is of the view that declaration is no longer required", Acting Chair, Ms Louise Sylvan, said today.
The transmission capacity service is a wholesale high bandwidth service (greater than 2Mbps) used for the transmission of voice, data or other communications between points located throughout Australia. It is used as an input in the supply of a wide range of retail voice call and data services.
The existing transmission capacity service declaration expires on 31 March 2004 and under the Trade Practices Act 1974 the ACCC is required to complete its review of the declaration prior to this date.
To assist its final decision, the ACCC invites comment on its draft decision by 30 January 2003. The ACCC expects to issue a final report in March 2004.