Press Statement - 9 March 2000
[ Last Updated 17 February 2006 ]
Press statement from Hugh Fletcher, Chairman, Ministerial Inquiry into Telecommunications
9 March 2000
The Ministerial Inquiry into Telecommunications began its work last week, meeting with key industry participants and a group of major telecommunications users. The Inquiry panel will meet with consumer groups in the near future.
The Inquiry was established to assess the regulatory regime for telecommunications, and recommend any changes. It has been asked to investigate and include particular comment on a range of issues, including:
- the environment for telecommunications network access and interconnection, including Telecom’s 0867 initiative;
- the development of an information economy;
- the Kiwi Share obligations; and
- numbering.
Mr Hugh Fletcher chairs the Inquiry. Other members are Ms Cathie Harrison and Mr Allan Asher. The Inquiry is due to report at the end of September.
The inquiry panel has now decided on the main features of the process it will follow in meeting the terms of reference and reporting to the Minister of Communications. This is as follows:
| Friday 7 April 2000 | issues paper released |
| Friday 5 May 2000 | detailed submissions on the issues paper due |
| Friday 30 June 2000 | draft report released |
| Monday 24 July 2000 | submissions on draft report due |
| Friday 28 July 2000 | submissions posted on Inquiry web-site |
| Wednesday 9 August 2000 | public comments due on draft report submissions |
| Friday 11 August 2000 | comments on submissions posted on Inquiry web-site |
Monday 14 August
– Friday 1 September 2000 | public hearings |
| Friday 29 September 2000 | final report to Minister of Communications |
The issues paper will review the Inquiry’s terms of reference, and identify the particular issues on which it would like to receive details of proposed solutions. Submissions on the issues paper will provide a key input into the Inquiry team's draft report.
In releasing the details of the process to be followed, Mr Fletcher said "the Inquiry team considers that the process provides interested stakeholders with considerable opportunity to contribute to the findings of the Inquiry team. In particular, through comment on an issues paper; comment on the Inquiry team’s draft report; comment on other submissions on the draft report and, finally, the opportunity to be heard during the public hearings."
Hugh Fletcher
Inquiry Chairman
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