In March 2007, the ACCC issued a discussion paper outlining the proposed approach to the Communications Infrastructure Audit.
The audit is designed to fulfil an objective identified in the 2006 final determination of the declaration inquiry for the unconditioned local loop service (ULLS), public switched telephone network originating and terminating access (PSTN OTA) and conditioned local loop service (CLLS) (the ‘Fixed Services Review’). In that review the ACCC indicated that it would develop an audit of infrastructure to further inform its analysis of the state of competition in relevant telecommunications markets in future processes, including decisions regarding the future removal of regulation where it is no longer needed to promote the interests of end-users.
Phase 1 of the audit—Telstra CAN RKR—September 2007
The first phase of the audit was the issuing of the Telstra CAN record-keeping rule (RKR) to Telstra. This RKR primarily requires the quarterly reporting of number of services in operation on Telstra's customer access network, including the ULLS and the line sharing service (LSS).
Phase 2 of the audit—Infrastructure RKR—December 2007
On 19 December 2007, the ACCC made the Infrastructure RKR requiring 22 specified carriers to report on the locations of their core network and customer access network infrastructure. The ACCC also published a Regulation Impact Statement for the Infratructure RKR.
In addition, the Australian Communications and media authority (ACMA) and the ACCC jointly issued a report on telecommunications infrastructure. Further details can be found here.
