The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is inviting final comment on the local bitstream access service description as final plans for regulation are made.

 

The local bitstream access services will be used to carry digital data on superfast telecommunications networks.

 

The ACCC has issued a draft final report and draft service description that will be the basis for the declared service when amendments to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Telecommunications Act 1997 commence in the New Year. The service description will not come into formal effect until commencement of the provisions.

 

The declaration will mean that wholesale providers of Layer 2 bitstream services that are superfast carriage services will have to provide access to those services to retailers under the standard access obligations in the Competition and Consumer Act. It will not apply to the NBN or to wireless or satellite networks.

 

"Although the service has not been declared at this stage, the ACCC is moving towards finalising the service description," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

 

"This is a chance for industry to have a final say before the local bitstream access service becomes permanent with no future opportunity for adjustment."

 

The draft final report and service description will be available on the ACCC's website at www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/.

 

If you wish to provide comments on this service description or the report please provide your comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm on Thursday, 8 December 2011.

 

The ACCC aims to publish the final service description before the end of the year.