20 Apr 2011

Telcos seek to change broadband bill

10:51 am on 20 April 2011

TelstraClear says all of the major telecommunications companies except Telecom have united to try to change a bill governing the new ultra-fast broadband network.

It says the Telecommunications Ammendment Bill, which is currently before a select committee, would exclude the Commerce Commission from investigating or regulating prices for 10 years.

TelstraClear's head of Government affairs Liesbeth Koomen says that under the law, the Government would grant private monopolies $1.35 billion without oversight by the commission.

Ms Koomen says that would mean consumers paying higher prices and getting poor service.