[AusNOG] NBNCo releases its response to industry consultation

[Matthew Moyle-Croft]

Grahame,
Do you really think NBNCo is going to blind call people without doing a bit of awareness raising in each area as it rolls out?   eg.  letter box drops, maybe a bit of door knocking, local "community meetings", advertisements in the local papers?   

MMC

On 29/03/2010, at 4:07 PM, Grahame Lynch wrote:

> OK trying to get my head around this.
> 
> {Phone rings}
> 
> Householder: Yes?
> Caller: Hi its XYZ contractor here, we are installing optical network terminals in your street next week and would like permission to install one by the side of your house. It's all part of the National Broadband Network you might have heard about.
> Householder: So how much will it cost me?
> Caller: Nothing to have the terminal installed but if you want service over it you need to sign up with a retail service provider
> Householder: Can I sign up with you for the NBN?
> Caller: No
> Householder: Can you tell me who I can sign up with?
> Caller: No. We are the just the installer for the NBN which is a wholesale only open access provider. A whole range of retail service providers offer service.
> Householder: I have Telstra for my phone line and Internode for my broadband. Do they know you are calling me?
> Caller: I cannot answer that.
> Householder: Why haven't they informed me...
> Caller: I cannot answer that.
> Householder: So where can I find out more about these services?
> Caller: I suggest you contact your service providers.
> HOuseholder: Can I find out more on your website...
> Caller: No we are just the installer...
> 
> and so on and so on.
> 
> Sorry for the facetiousness here but you know for the past 100 years or so we have tended to operate under the "vertically integrated" paradigm where someone takes overall responsibility for your connection even where parts of that service (ie long distance voice, dial up, broadband) may be provided by another entity.
> 
> Seems that with an NBN type company predicated on open access and equivalence it is very difficult for them to talk people into agreeing into an ONT connection unless they can talk in some detail about why they should get it.
> 
> But by definition they cannot promote retail services.
> 
> It is going to have to be the mother of all awareness campaigns to make this happen smoothly.
> 
> When the ACA introduced preselection in the early 1990s for long distance voice, they rolled it out "area by area" allowing Telstra and Optus to campaign about the changes in geographically defined zones so that consumers understood what they were being asked to decide on. Those zones were not based on exchange or fiber serving areas but defined media markets.
> 
> Something similar would seem to be needed this time albeit recognising the fact that this won't be a duopoly asking for simple "choose between me or them" situation.
> 
> Of course if TLS and NBN Co come to agreement and everyone is just forcibly migrated across I guess it is a moot point. But then that puts Telstra in pole position of the "sell" campaign for the NBN connection right? Interesting scenario and an interesting way to leverage one's brand and customer database dominance.
> 

-- 
Matthew Moyle-Croft
Peering Manager and Team Lead - Commercial and DSLAMs
Internode /Agile