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<p>While everyone is thinking of taking a break from the decryption
bill, there are two other reviews under way, each on largely
similar topics, namely wholesale performance standards of NBN and
other wholesale network providers, and retail rebates to
customers.<br>
</p>
<p>These may have a more immediate and larger impact on your
business than the Assistance & Access bill, and worth your
time reading over the next few weeks and deciding if you can
provide them some insight into the impact on your services if they
also are passed.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------<br>
</p>
<p><b>Dept of Comms paper 'Consumer Safeguards Review - Reliability
of Services'</b> is at
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consumer-safeguards-review-consultation-part-b-reliability-services">https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consumer-safeguards-review-consultation-part-b-reliability-services</a></p>
<p>Its only 14 pages of content, but seeks feedback on more proposed
mandatory rules on retail AND wholesale service providers
regarding connection times and repair times:</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<ul>
<li> Mandatory rules which include maximum timeframes on how
consumers and small businesses connect and stay connected,
encouraging providers to keep appointments. Significant
penalties would apply for non-compliance.</li>
<li> Requirements for providers to focus on keeping consumers
connected. This includes offering alternative services if
maximum timeframes are not met.</li>
<li> Under a fault, services not to be charged for days a fault
is active until repairs are done</li>
<li>If an appointment is missed the consumer must be paid $100 by
the organisation responsible for attending the appointment
(retailer or wholesaler).</li>
<li>If another party (such as the network provider) is responsible
for a mandatory timeframe not being met, it will reimburse the
retailer the cost<br>
of providing any agreed backup or alternative service.
Otherwise, the retail provider will be responsible for meeting
those costs.<br>
</li>
<li> All network operators publishing reliability metrics to
help consumers make informed decisions.</li>
<li> Collection and publication of data by the ACMA on fixed
connections, repairs and appointments from both wholesale and
retail providers.</li>
</ul>
<p>Submissions will be accepted until<strong> 18 January 2019 by
5:00pm AEDST.</strong></p>
<p>--------------------------------------</p>
<p><b>ACCC NBN Wholesale Service Standards Enquiry</b></p>
<p>ACCC commenced a public inquiry to determine whether NBN
wholesale service standard levels are appropriate, and consider
whether regulation is necessary to improve consumer experiences.</p>
<p>The ACCC released a second discussion paper on 7 December 2018
seeking further input on matters raised by stakeholders in the
inquiry that were not fully addressed by NBN Co's enforceable
undertaking.</p>
<p>Primarily on rebates to RSPs when NBN fails to live up to its
service levels. "Rebates are a key component of NBN Co’s service
level framework. We<br>
consider that rebate commitments should provide strong
incentives on NBN Co to meet its service levels. Further,
rebates provide certainty to RSPs about what to expect when
service levels are not achieved and assist RSPs to provide
services that meet end user expectations"<br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.accc.gov.au/regulated-infrastructure/communications/national-broadband-network-nbn/nbn-wholesale-service-standards-inquiry/second-discussion-paper">https://www.accc.gov.au/regulated-infrastructure/communications/national-broadband-network-nbn/nbn-wholesale-service-standards-inquiry/second-discussion-paper</a></p>
<p> Submissions are due by <strong>15 February 2019</strong>.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------</p>
<p>Paul.<br>
</p>
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