The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced today that it would hold a public inquiry to review the digital data access service (DDAS) and the integrated services digital network (ISDN) declarations in regional areas.
The purpose of the public inquiry is to determine whether the declaration of the ISDN and DDAS services should be re-made, extended, revoked, varied or allowed to expire. In June 2005, the ACCC continued declarations for the DDAS and ISDN services. The declarations only relate to regional areas until 30 June 2008 as the declarations in CBD and metropolitan areas expired on 30 June 2006.
A discussion paper was issued today which identifies issues relevant to the review and seeks comments on particular aspects of DDAS, ISDN and related markets and the impact of regulation on these markets. The discussion paper will be available on the ACCC's website.
To assist its decision, the ACCC is seeking submissions on its discussion paper from stakeholders and interested parties by 5pm, Friday 21 December 2007.
The ACCC expects to issue a draft report setting out its preliminary findings early in 2008.