Communications (2005)

LABOUR’S VISION

Labour is committed to New Zealand being a world leader in using information and communications technology (ICT) for economic, social and cultural gain, and to ensuring that all New Zealanders can access the benefits that ICT can bring.

Labour’s Achievements

This Labour-led government has ended the destructive period of ultra-light handed regulation that stifled competition, growth and consumer choice in ICT markets.

The Telecommunications Act of 2001 was a major step towards bringing policy into line with the interests of end-users of ICT services. Under the Act a new Office of the Telecommunications Commissioner was set up. Issues such as interconnection and number portability that had been the subject of seemingly unending litigation and dispute in the 1990s were resolved.

Labour has been pro-active in facilitating the rapid development of the ICT sector through the ICT Taskforce, Project PROBE, the E-Commerce Action Team, the Electronic Transactions Bill, E-Commerce Summits, and a massive programme of ICT development in schools and the state sector.

In 2004 the Telecommunications Commissioner investigated, at the government's request, the unbundling of the local loop and associated services. The Commissioner recommended unbundling internet grade bit stream and private data circuits, but not the local loop. After careful consideration the Minister accepted this recommendation.

Labour’s work to date has laid the foundations for a more competitive and responsive ICT market. The challenge for the future is to build on this platform and deliver our objective for New Zealand.

Labour’s Priorities

Creating Our Digital Future

New Zealand stands at the brink of an exciting broadband future. With best practice regulation, world class ICT infrastructure can be built and, where it already exists, extended. This is a necessity for developed nations seeking to build high levels of productivity.

It is important that the benefits of ICT are realised throughout our society. We cannot allow the enormous opportunities available to turn into another layer of exclusion, be this through deprivation of skills, access, confidence or lack of local content.

Labour will:

Implement the Digital Strategy, which sets the direction for ICT policy across the government. This involves:

Unlocking digital content for all New Zealanders through the National Content Strategy: NZ Online,
Building capability and confidence through education and internet security,
Boosting the reach and speed of connectivity through improved regulatory tools, the Advanced Research Network, PROBE extension and the Broadband Challenge,
Promoting access and demand in our communities, businesses and government, in particular through the Community Partnership Fund;

Complete the implementation review of Telecommunications Act 2001 and pass any resulting legislation;
Address key regulatory concerns, especially the effectiveness of wholesale telecommunications markets;
Closely monitor and enforce commitments made by Telecom New Zealand under the local loop unbundling decisions and ensure targets for broadband uptake for the next three years as outlined in the Digital Strategy are met;
Establish a telecommunications complaints resolution service;
Actively support pilot projects such as municipal networks, micro-trenching and similar, which can assist in the roll-out of fibre access to homes and municipal facilities. Pilots which show successful outcomes will be rolled out more broadly as funding allows;
Ensure that spectrum space for non-commercial broadcasters and educational purposes is maintained in either AM or FM bands;
Investigate, as part of an overall review of government procurement practices, changes to government ICT procurement practices, to enhance the participation of small and local providers.