ITWire

The Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network has concluded its investigation into the 'fibre in greenfields' legislation. It has recommended that the bill be passed, but has expressed concerns about its impact on the presently competitive market for fibring up greenfield developments. The dissenting Coalition members report says this is a fundamental flaw in the legislation.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy has released, in draft form, the legislative instruments that will specify how Telstra structurally separates and migrates its customers from its copper and HFC networks to the NBN - subject to it signing agreements with the Government and with NBN Co.

In a rare show of unity, New Zealand telcos, user and consumer organisations have joined forces to oppose planned legislation that will pave the way for structural separation of Telecom NZ, and for the Government funded Ultrafast Broadband Network (UFB), the equivalent of Australia's NBN.