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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/reforms-pave-way-for-telstra-breakup-20090915-fof0.html">http://www.smh.com.au/business/reforms-pave-way-for-telstra-breakup-20090915-fof0.html</a><br>
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<h2 class="cN-headingPage prepend-5 span-11 last"><headline>Reforms
pave way for Telstra break-up</headline></h2>
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<div class="cT-storyDetails cfix"> <cite>September 15, 2009 - 9:58AM</cite>
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<p> The Federal
Government has announced a package of reforms to telecommunications
regulations that will pave the way for a break-up of Telstra.</p>
<p>Communications
Minister Stephen Conroy said the reforms would address the telco's high
level of integration with the aim of promoting greater competition and
consumer benefits.<br>
</p>
<br>
and....<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/088">http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/088</a>
<p><b>From Conroy's press release:</b><br>
These reforms will drive future growth, productivity and innovation
across all sectors of the economy by:<br>
<br>
* addressing Telstra’s high level of integration to promote greater
competition and consumer benefits;<br>
* streamlining and simplifying the competition regime to provide
more certain and quicker outcomes for telecommunications companies;<br>
* strengthening consumer safeguards to ensure services standards
are maintained at a high level; and<br>
* removing redundant and inefficient regulatory red-tape.<br>
<br>
“For years industry has been calling for fundamental and historic
micro-economic reform in telecommunications. Today we are delivering
this outcome in Australia’s long term national interest,” Senator
Conroy said.<br>
<br>
Telstra is one of the most highly integrated telecommunications
companies in the world across the fixed-line copper, cable and mobile
platforms.<br>
<br>
“The reforms address the structure of the telecommunications market and
provide Telstra with the flexibility to choose its future path.”<br>
<br>
“It is the Government’s clear desire for Telstra to structurally
separate, on a voluntary and cooperative basis.”<br>
</p>
<p><br>
Another interesting week!<br>
Paul.<br>
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