The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will today issue a discussion paper inviting comment on whether to declare a wholesale ADSL service.
This declaration inquiry has been initiated in light of on-going competition concerns that have arisen from complaints by access seekers that a lack of regulated access to wholesale DSL services has impeded their ability to compete with Telstra.
"The ACCC has continued to monitor the state of competition and it has become clear that there are a range of competition concerns around the supply of wholesale DSL services," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.
"The ACCC's objectives are to promote competition and the development of competitive choices for consumers," Mr Sims said.
As part of the declaration inquiry the ACCC must consider whether declaration is likely to promote competition, achieve any-to-any connectivity between end-users and encourage efficient investment. Once a service is declared an access provider supplying the declared service must supply the service in accordance with the standard access obligations.
The ACCC is seeking submissions on whether declaration of the wholesale ADSL service will promote the long-term interests of end-users of telecommunication services. Interested parties are requested to make submissions as soon as possible and by no later than 5 P.M. on Thursday 19 January 2012.
The ACCC does not propose to issue a draft decision prior to making a final decision on the declaration inquiry.
The discussion paper will be available on the ACCC website.