Summary

Amends the: Radiocommunications Act 1992, Telecommunications Act 1997 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to prevent Telstra from acquiring specified bands of spectrum which could be used for advanced wireless broadband services unless it structurally separates and divests its interests in cable networks and subscription broadcasting licences; National Transmission Network Sale Act 1998, Telecommunications Act 1997 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to require the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to: set up-front prices and non-price terms for declared services; make binding rules of conduct for the supply of declared services; issue access determinations for declared services; receive access agreements between providers and access seekers; remove the option to apply for exemptions from access obligations or undertakings; and remove merits review of regulatory decisions made by the ACCC; Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to: remove the requirement for the ACCC to undertake consultation before issuing a Part A competition notice; and clarify that content services supplied by carriers and carriage service providers are subject to the competition notice regime; Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to: require the universal service provider to supply standard telephone services and payphones as determined by the minister; and provide for the minister to establish minimum Customer Service Guarantee performance benchmarks; and Telecommunications Act 1997 to: enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to obtain regular reports about carriers’ and service providers’ compliance with their obligations; require service providers to offer a priority assistance service; establish an infringement notice regime to deal with breaches of civil penalty provisions; and enable the minister to direct ACMA to determine industry standards.