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• Vote: Communications

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Output Class > Policy Advice > Communications

This output class provides strategic and technical policy advice on information technology, the Government's Digital Strategy, telecommunications (including broadband), postal services and the allocation and management of radio spectrum. The following outputs are included in this output class for 2006/2007.

• Information Technology Policy - which relates to providing policy advice on information technology, including international technical developments and regulatory frameworks relevant to the Government's broadband and industry development strategies. Key areas of focus include:
  • implementing the Government's Digital Strategy for New Zealand, covering the major areas of transforming government, digital divide, business growth, security, infrastructure, and content; and
  • supporting the enactment of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill.
• Telecommunications and Postal Policy Advice - which relates to providing policy advice on services and activities under the Telecommunications Act 2001 and on the letter post market. The output includes the development of regulations, where required, and representing New Zealand's interests at international fora relating to telecommunications and postal services. Key areas of focus include:
  • monitoring and enhancing the telecommunications regulatory regime, including:
    • completing a stocktake review of the telecommunications sector;
    • managing the implementation review of the Telecommunications Act;
    • evaluating the effectiveness of the operation of the cellular market;
  • monitoring and maintaining the ICT regulatory regime to ensure it keeps pace with technological change; and
  • providing advice on the Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO).
• Radio Spectrum Policy Advice - which relates to providing policy advice on the management and allocation of the radio spectrum. Key areas of focus include:
  • providing advice on spectrum allocations for new radio spectrum technologies, including wireless broadband, digital television, and digital radio broadcasting technologies; and
  • developing and implementing a programme of future spectrum allocations, including allocations to promote shared access and self management techniques.

Service Performance

Policy advice will be delivered as agreed with the Minister and as detailed in the Ministry of Economic Development Output Plan.

Generic quantity, quality and timeliness performance measures for all policy advice, Ministerial services and briefings supplied by the Ministry of Economic Development are detailed in Quality Standards for Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing.

Costs: Output Class - Policy Advice - Communications

Output Class > Management and Enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act 1989

This output class provides services in relation to the management of the Radiocommunications Act 1989 by establishing technical arrangements for the allocation of radio spectrum, including international co-ordination and representation; issuing licences; providing licence registration services and access to the information held on the register of radio frequencies; assisting with the resolution of radio spectrum interference complaints; ensuring compliance with, and enforcement of, the statutory responsibilities of all spectrum users and suppliers of interfering equipment; and management of radio spectrum sales.

Service Performance

Where appropriate, comparative figures for the previous year are shown in parentheses.

• Licensing, Compliance Management, and Registration - this output involves:
  • Quantity
    • Action an estimated:
      • 3,500 (3,000) new radio licence applications;
      • 300 (250) new spectrum licences in Crown-owned management rights;
      • 1,800 (4,000) modifications to radio licences;
      • 1,000 (800) instrument registrations in Crown and private management rights; and
      • 1,000 (1,100) interference investigations including 670 (720) TV/broadcasting interference, 250 (280) commercial interference and 80 (100) public safety interference.
    • The Ministry expects to conduct:
      • 650 (650) product standard compliance audits. (All electrical and electronic products supplied in New Zealand are required to meet standards protecting the radio spectrum, with suppliers subject to audit of the documentation and product labelling confirming compliance); and
      • 1,750 (1,500) licence audits.
  • Quality
    • The granting and registration of licences, along with licence and product audits, will be made in accordance with ISO9001. ISO certification for these procedures will be retained following quality audits.
  • Timeliness
    • Correctly completed, paid and engineered planned licences will be granted/registered within an overall mean turnaround of five working days.
    • Documented interference complaints will be responded to and remedial action commenced as follows:
      • for public safety services, within two (two) hours of being lodged in 95% (95%) of cases;
      • for commercial radiocommunications, within one (one) working day of being lodged in 95% (95%) of cases; and
      • for radio and television broadcasting, within two (two) working days of being lodged in 90% (90%) of cases.
• Radio Spectrum Planning - which relates to providing advice on technical arrangements for the management and allocation of radio spectrum, including:
  • representing New Zealand's radiocommunications interests at the International Telecommunications Union and other international fora;
  • conducting sales of radio spectrum rights as directed by the government;
  • designing regulatory and technical frameworks to support the introduction of new radio spectrum technologies;
  • providing engineering advice to support the development and implementation of radio spectrum policy advice; and
  • providing engineering advice to support the management and enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act 1989.

Costs: Output Class - Management and Enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act 1989