Draft legislation for fibre in new developments

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, recently released for comment an exposure draft of legislation to support the rollout of fibre-optic networks in new developments around Australia. This Bill complements the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill will amend the Telecommunications Act 1997. It will enable the Minister to make instruments specifying classes of new developments such that where a fixed line is installed it needs to be optical fibre.

An exposure draft of this Bill was circulated to state and territory planning Ministers and the government’s Greenfields Stakeholder Reference Group in November.

“It is counterproductive to have our newest homes and businesses connected with old technology, particularly when it will cost more to retrofit them later,” Senator Conroy said. “We want to ensure that people enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband services from the day they move in to a new home.

"The government’s greenfields policy builds on the growing trend in the development industry to have fibre to the premises installed. In recent weeks I’ve had the pleasure of launching FTTP in developments at Forde in the ACT and Alamanda in Victoria.”

The Commonwealth is working with state and territory governments on how its legislation will fit with planning arrangements. It is also working with the Communications Alliance and NBN Co to develop technical guidelines to assist stakeholders and to ensure that new developments meet appropriate standards and can be integrated into the wider NBN.

The Commonwealth is aiming to introduce the legislation in early 2010 with a view to it coming into effect from 1 July 2010.

A copy of the draft Bill and further information is available on the Department’s website at www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork. Queries or comments on the Bill can be emailed to greenfields@dbcde.gov.au by 22 January 2010.