Communications Alliance Forum
Thursday 16 August 2007 - Sydney

USO Greenfields Forum

Communications Alliance held an industry forum to discuss the application of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) in greenfield areas.  

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, called for public submissions as part of a review of the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (USO).

A copy of the USO Review issues paper and information on how to make submissions is available at www.dcita.gov.au/uso 

Program:
• Welcome - Malcolm Alder, KPMG
• Introduction - Anne Hurley, Communications Alliance
• Background and Policy - Andrew Maurer, DCITA - Presentation
• Global Observations - Jason Ockerby, CECG www.cecg.com.au - Presentation
• Telstra Perspectives - Denis Mullane, Telstra - Presentation
• State Government View - Matthew Dummett, Multimedia Victoria - Presentation
• Provider Panel - including Andrew Cox, IP Systems; Peter Thompson, PIVIT; Rod Barrett, TransAct

Background:
In an address to the National Press Club on 27 June, Senator Helen Coonan announced the commencement of a review of the USO. 

'…this review will look at the obligations on industry and determine whether the load is being shared equitably as was its intention.

Unlike some jurisdictions, such as the UK, all telecommunications carriers in Australia are required to make a proportionate contribution, based on market share, towards the cost of providing the USO.
Telstra has argued that the amount its competitors contribute to the USO does not reflect their costs incurred providing the obligation.

This USO Review will test this argument and inform my decision on setting the next round of USO subsidy levels.

The USO review will also consider whether it is appropriate for Telstra to be the USO provider in all circumstances.

For example, should Telstra be required to be the Universal Service Provider in a greenfield estate where another company wins the development contract to be the infrastructure provider for that estate?

Or should the company that wins that contract also bear the responsibility for the provision of a telephone service in that estate?

A discussion paper for public comment on the USO Review will be released shortly.

The initial proposal is for this forum to discuss and consider greenfields estate issues in general. If the USO Review Discussion Paper is released prior to this date, the forum may consider the wider issues of the USO. 

No definite timing is available on the release of the discussion paper, however The Australian, August 07, 2007 reported: "Senator Coonan next week plans to announce a review of the Universal Service Obligation..."

Who should attend?
Carriers, developers, local government, state government bodies, Department of Communications, IT and the Arts.