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Telecommunications FTTN: decide in haste, regret at leisure, says CCC
Telecommunications FTTN: decide in haste, regret at leisure, says CCC | FTTN: decide in haste, regret at leisure, says CCC |
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| Written by Stuart Corner | |
| Saturday, 07 July 2007 | |
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Page 1 of 2 Formans' come in the wake of communications minister, senator Helen Coonan, releasing the terms of reference for the expert taskforce she announced two weeks ago. The role of the taskforce will be develop guidelines and an assessment process for bids and then to assess the bids. The minister has not so far set a definite timetable for the whole process but has left it to the taskforce to make recommendations. It is, however expected to submit its draft proposal for the assessment process within six weeks of its formation and in that report to "advise Government of its draft timetable for the assessment process." When she released the terms of reference on 06 July, the minister said: "The Expert Taskforce is meeting regularly to settle the draft guidelines...The Taskforce first met two weeks ago and is meeting again today." The Taskforce's reports will be made public, with appropriate arrangements for confidential material. Forman contrasted Australia's timetable to that of Singapore: "Singapore, which is conducting a similar process, began in March 2006 and does not expect to invite bids until mid August 2007. In other words, the Government there has set aside almost a year and a half to make sure it fully understands all the options and implications of a fibre-based broadband network. As a result it has attracted 12 bidders so far, with the option of others becoming involved still open." He added: "This network cannot be built before the election, so there is no benefit – but enormous risk – in trying to rush the process of decided the conditions under which it should be built. It would be a tragic if this announcement resulted in potential bidders other than Telstra and the G9 deciding not to bother participating because of this unnecessary haste." |
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