Publication
Productivity Commission – Submission on USO
The Productivity Commission is taking submissions on the policy for the universal service obligation (USO). Submissions are due by 21 July. The draft report is expected in December with a final report to the Commonwealth bu April 2017.
My thoughts on the future of the USO are expressed at length in my Occasional Paper for ACCAN (see my publications page). But, I have submitted some key point in this 3 page submission USO-Prod.Com.July-2016
Data roaming – Let’s roam like at home
The OECD’s latest report on the state of international data roaming shows that Australia is getting left behind. The cost of using data overseas is outrageously high. Efforts to reduce such costs on a reciprocal basis for travel between Australia and new Zealand stalled two years ago. There is draft legislation on both sides of the Tasman that will give the responsible regulators the teeth to see progress. It needs to be acted on.
For more, see Economuse 2016-04-29-roam
2015 Review of Broadband Pricing
This is the 8th in an annual series that reviews retail broadband plans in Australia.
To read this click Economuse 2015-09-29
Big Pipes (2006)
This report released in April 2006 was inadvertently omitted from my publications page – sorry. It deals with the importance of improved international connectivity (“big pipes”) for big business, big science and the development of the information economy in WA. It is here: bigpipes
Mobile and the NBN – Again
An ACMA report has shown that 21 percent of Australian adults use mobiles for both voice and broadband services. It seems that both the National Broadband Network and the Bureau of Communications Research need to question their current views on the role of mobiles in the communications industry.
For more, click Economuse 2015-06-19