We are seeking your feedback on a draft instrument to exempt certain developments in rural and remote areas from the requirement to install fibre-ready pit and pipe under Part 20A of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

How it works

Why we want your input
Your input will help determine whether the proposed changes will reduce unnecessary regulatory and financial burden on developers while still supporting appropriate telecommunications infrastructure and services in new rural developments.
How you can voice your opinion
You can have your say by providing a written submission by 14 October 2016. Your submission should be relevant to the issue and cover your key points of interest.
What will be the outcome of this consultation?
This consultation will gauge industry and community views and help inform whether to proceed with the changes to exempt certain developments in rural and remote areas.

Consultation Information

Consultation tabs

The Issue
Consultation Period:  September 23, 2016 10:00 AEST to October 14, 2016 17:00 AEDT

We have released a draft exemption instrument under Part 20A of the Telecommunications Act 1997 and seek your comments on it, including any implications for carriers, developers and consumers.

The draft exemption instrument proposes to exempt certain developments from the requirement to install fibre-ready pit and pipe under Part 20A of the Act.

The proposed instrument would cover developments where:

  • no networked utilities or only above-ground electricity lines will be installed in proximity to each building lot (i.e. they are relatively remote and do not have mains water, sewerage or underground electricity);
  • there is no kerb and channelling constructed, or planned to be constructed;
  • the average length of the street frontages of the building lots within the development exceeds 60 metres (i.e. they are larger rural type blocks); and
  • the development is not in a current or announced NBN fixed-line network rollout area.

Developments that meet these criteria are expected to generally be serviced by direct buried cable, wireless or satellite services that do not need pit and pipe infrastructure.

We developed the instrument in response to concerns from stakeholders about the cost of providing fibre-ready pit and pipe in areas where it is unlikely to be used.

We are also proposing to require developers to provide written notice to the Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts of development projects for which an exemption is claimed. It is proposed that the following project details would need to be outlined in the notice:

  • the development name;
  • the stage name or number of the development;
  • the development’s type;
  • how many building lots/building units that will be in the development; and
  • location information.

We are proposing this would be an online system but seek your feedback on how it could be implemented.

Relevant documentation

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Started September 23, 2016 10:00 AEST
Ended October 14, 2016 17:00 AEDT
Days Remaining 0 of 21
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