The Government has enacted the Regional Broadband Scheme (RBS) to fund the loss making components of the NBN (i.e. fixed wireless and satellite services) through a levy on fixed line infrastructure providers.
The ACCC was required to report publicly and to the Minister for Communications by 21 October on certain aspects of the RBS, as set out in the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Act 2020. Specifically, the estimated losses of NBN Co’s fixed wireless and satellite services, and the levy required to offset the losses.
The ACCC’s estimates have the status of advice.
The legislated levy, which is capped at $7.10 in the first eligible financial year and then indexed annually by CPI, can only be changed to an amount below the cap by the Minister for Communications under the Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020.