Commonwealth Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: Universal Service Obligation

Many competition and regulatory issues will arise from the roll-out of the National Broadband Network (NBN). The Universal Service Obligation (USO) has been a key aspect of telecommunications regulation for many years and is a regime intended to ensure that standard telephone services are made available to all Australians on an equitable basis.

The move towards NBN, which will provide the infrastructure that will allow wholesale and retail service providers to deliver advanced digital services to the nation, has necessitated a strategic review of how the USO is to be delivered and the agreements with Telstra.

Corrs is the primary adviser to Commonwealth Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) on the agreements between Telstra and the Commonwealth on the future provision of universal service in a post-NBN world and on the design of the new regulatory regime.

Corrs is working with the DBCDE to prepare and negotiate the USO arrangements with Telstra. The agreement which is valued at approximately $2 billion is an integral part of the suite of agreements between Telstra, NBN Co and the Commonwealth.

NBN Co Limited

The national broadband network is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Australia, and the establishment of the government-owned NBN Co Limited has involved a broad range of legal issues. As a provider of workplace law services to NBN, Corrs has been advising on innovations including a best practice framework for internal regulation of employment of thousands of people, and a strategic industrial relations framework involving unions. Specific legislation, government guidelines and NBN’s drive for high standards of performance and safety have added layers of complexity to employment law issues including contracting, compliance and privacy, and occupational health and safety matters.