The Australian Telecommunications Regulatory Environment: An overview
Main Article Content
Keywords
Australian telecommunications law, regulation, telecommunications law, universal service obligation
Abstract
The Australian telecommunications regulatory environment has moved from the tentative deregulation of a managed fixed line duopoly to full deregulation and back to a state-owned enterprise being the monopoly wholesale provider of fixed broadband services. At the same time, the more lightly regulated mobile sector has continued to grow.
This article provides an overview of the legal and regulatory regime for telecommunications and related services in Australia by charting the changes in regulation over this period and by indicating some of the changes that are evolving. The work is intended to provide a platform for comparison between regulatory regimes in different jurisdictions and as the basis for further analysis of the sector.Downloads
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References
Legislation and subordinate legislation
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013Q00005
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01082
Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01058
Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00845
Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00474
Telecommunications Code of Practice 1997. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2004C01081
Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code C628:2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from http://www.commsalliance.com.au/Documents/all/codes/c628
Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 1997. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2015C00727
Bibliography
ACCAN. (2016). Rural, Regional and Remote Communications Coalition. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://accan.org.au/rrrc-coalition
ACCC. (1999). Telecommunications services - declaration provisions. Canberra, Australia. Retrieved from https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/telecommunications-services-declaration-provisions
ACMA. (2016). Communications Report 2015-2016. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theacma/communications-report-2015-16
Cave, M., & Webb, W. (2015). Spectrum Management: Using the Airwaves for Maximum Social and Economic Benefit. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Coutts, R. (2015). Better telecommunications services for all Australians: Further thoughts on the universal service obligation. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 89.
de Ridder, J. (2015). Who are you going to call?: The future of the Universal Service obligation. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 108.
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2015). Spectrum review. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/spectrum/spectrum-review
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Consultation on the telecommunications anti-competitive conduct laws. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-telecommunications-anti-competitive-conduct-laws
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Spectrum reform legislative proposals consultation. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/spectrum-reform-legislative-proposals-consultation
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Telstra Universal Service Obligation Performance Agreement. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/phone-services/consumer-protection/telstra-universal-service-obligation-performance-agreement
Gasmi, F., Laffont, J. J., & Sharkey, W. W. (2002). The natural monopoly test reconsidered: an engineering process-based approach to empirical analysis in telecommunications. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 20(4), 435–459. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-7187(00)00103-X
Grant, A., & Howarth, D. (2011). Australian Telecommunications Regulation. (A. Grant & D. Howarth, Eds.) (4th ed.). Sydney, Australia: CCH Australia Limited.
Gregory, M. (2015). The rationale for universal access to digital services. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 166.
Gregory, M. (2016). Telco reform an attack on the ACCC. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://www.innovationaus.com/2016/11/Telco-reform-an-attack-on-ACCC
Harper, I., Anderson, P., McCluskey, S., & O’Bryan, M. (2015). Competition Policy Review Final Report. Canberra. Retrieved from http://competitionpolicyreview.gov.au/final-report/
Independent Telcommunications Adjudicator. (2016). Telecommunications disputes. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from http://www.theita.com.au/the-ita
Li, G. (2016). Conceptualising the Australian telecommunications industry self-regulation scheme in the context of Australian judicial system and administrative justice. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 4(3), 21.
NBN Co. (2016). nbn Corporate plan 2017 - 2020. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/speeches-and-presentations/nbn-corporate-plan-2017-2020.html
Nicholls, R. (2014). Broadcasting Regulation. In B. Griffen-Foley (Ed.), A Companion to the Australian Media. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Nicholls, R. (2014). Structural Separation, Interconnection and Access. Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law, 2014(22), 54–56.
Nicholls, R. (2014). Telstra. In B. Griffen-Foley (Ed.), A Companion to the Australian Media. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Productivity Commission. (2016). Public Inquiry into the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/telecommunications#draft
Raiche, H. (2015). From universal service to universal communications. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 129.
Salant, D. J. (2014). A primer on Auction Design, Management, and Strategy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Scales, B. (2014). Independent Audit of NBN Public Policy Processes April 2008 – May 2010. Canberra, Australia. Retrieved from https://www.communications.gov.au/departmental-news/independent-audit-nbn-public-policy-process
Sharkey, W. W. (1983). The theory of natural monopoly. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Telstra. (2016). Structural Separation Undertaking. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.telstrawholesale.com.au/why-telstra-wholesale/structural-separation-undertaking.html
TIO. (2016). Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman - TIO. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.tio.com.au/
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013Q00005
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01082
Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01058
Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00845
Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (Cth). Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00474
Telecommunications Code of Practice 1997. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2004C01081
Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code C628:2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from http://www.commsalliance.com.au/Documents/all/codes/c628
Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 1997. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2015C00727
Bibliography
ACCAN. (2016). Rural, Regional and Remote Communications Coalition. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://accan.org.au/rrrc-coalition
ACCC. (1999). Telecommunications services - declaration provisions. Canberra, Australia. Retrieved from https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/telecommunications-services-declaration-provisions
ACMA. (2016). Communications Report 2015-2016. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theacma/communications-report-2015-16
Cave, M., & Webb, W. (2015). Spectrum Management: Using the Airwaves for Maximum Social and Economic Benefit. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Coutts, R. (2015). Better telecommunications services for all Australians: Further thoughts on the universal service obligation. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 89.
de Ridder, J. (2015). Who are you going to call?: The future of the Universal Service obligation. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 108.
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2015). Spectrum review. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/spectrum/spectrum-review
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Consultation on the telecommunications anti-competitive conduct laws. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-telecommunications-anti-competitive-conduct-laws
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Spectrum reform legislative proposals consultation. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/spectrum-reform-legislative-proposals-consultation
Department of Communications and the Arts. (2016). Telstra Universal Service Obligation Performance Agreement. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/phone-services/consumer-protection/telstra-universal-service-obligation-performance-agreement
Gasmi, F., Laffont, J. J., & Sharkey, W. W. (2002). The natural monopoly test reconsidered: an engineering process-based approach to empirical analysis in telecommunications. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 20(4), 435–459. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-7187(00)00103-X
Grant, A., & Howarth, D. (2011). Australian Telecommunications Regulation. (A. Grant & D. Howarth, Eds.) (4th ed.). Sydney, Australia: CCH Australia Limited.
Gregory, M. (2015). The rationale for universal access to digital services. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 166.
Gregory, M. (2016). Telco reform an attack on the ACCC. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://www.innovationaus.com/2016/11/Telco-reform-an-attack-on-ACCC
Harper, I., Anderson, P., McCluskey, S., & O’Bryan, M. (2015). Competition Policy Review Final Report. Canberra. Retrieved from http://competitionpolicyreview.gov.au/final-report/
Independent Telcommunications Adjudicator. (2016). Telecommunications disputes. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from http://www.theita.com.au/the-ita
Li, G. (2016). Conceptualising the Australian telecommunications industry self-regulation scheme in the context of Australian judicial system and administrative justice. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 4(3), 21.
NBN Co. (2016). nbn Corporate plan 2017 - 2020. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/speeches-and-presentations/nbn-corporate-plan-2017-2020.html
Nicholls, R. (2014). Broadcasting Regulation. In B. Griffen-Foley (Ed.), A Companion to the Australian Media. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Nicholls, R. (2014). Structural Separation, Interconnection and Access. Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law, 2014(22), 54–56.
Nicholls, R. (2014). Telstra. In B. Griffen-Foley (Ed.), A Companion to the Australian Media. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Productivity Commission. (2016). Public Inquiry into the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/telecommunications#draft
Raiche, H. (2015). From universal service to universal communications. Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 3(4), 129.
Salant, D. J. (2014). A primer on Auction Design, Management, and Strategy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Scales, B. (2014). Independent Audit of NBN Public Policy Processes April 2008 – May 2010. Canberra, Australia. Retrieved from https://www.communications.gov.au/departmental-news/independent-audit-nbn-public-policy-process
Sharkey, W. W. (1983). The theory of natural monopoly. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Telstra. (2016). Structural Separation Undertaking. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from https://www.telstrawholesale.com.au/why-telstra-wholesale/structural-separation-undertaking.html
TIO. (2016). Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman - TIO. Retrieved 30 November 2016, from https://www.tio.com.au/
Article Sidebar
Published
Jan 11, 2017
Article Details
How to Cite
Nicholls, R. (2017). The Australian Telecommunications Regulatory Environment: An overview. Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 4(4), 196–213. https://doi.org/10.18080/jtde.v4n4.76
Issue
Section
Telecommunications
Copyright Telecommunications Association Inc.
Author Biography
Rob Nicholls, UNSW Business School
Dr Rob Nicholls is a lecturer in the School of Taxation and Business Law at the UNSW Business School.
