Commonwealth of Australia

Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999

Universal Service Subsidies (2008-09 Extended Zones) Determination (No. 1) 2008

I, STEPHEN MICHAEL CONROY, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, make the following Determination under subsection 16(1) of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

Dated 21 November 2008

STEPHEN MICHAEL CONROY

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

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1               Name of Determination

This Determination is the Universal Service Subsidies (2008-09 Extended Zones) Determination (No. 1) 2008.

2               Commencement

This Determination commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3      Definitions

In this Determination:

Act means the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

claim period means the 2008-2009 financial year.

Extended Zones universal service area means the universal service area notified as the universal service area of the Extended Zones in the Notice of the Primary Universal Service Provider for the Extended Zones of Australia published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 25 July 2001.

relevant service obligations means:

(a)     the obligation referred to in paragraph 9(1)(a) of the Act (dealing with the standard telephone service); and

(b)     the obligation referred to in paragraph 9(1)(b) of the Act (dealing with payphones).

standard telephone service includes an alternative telecommunications service (ATS) which is supplied in accordance with an approved ATS marketing plan in fulfilment of the obligation under paragraph 9(1)(a) of the Act.

4      Universal service subsidies

For the purposes of section 16 of the Act, the amounts of the universal service subsidies specified in the Schedule are determined for the Extended Zones in respect of the relevant service obligations for the claim period.

5     Circumstances in which subsidies are payable

A universal service provider for the claim period is eligible to be paid the subsidies specified in the Schedule if the provider complies with the provider’s obligations under section 12C of the Act.

Schedule – Universal service subsidies (Extended Zones)

1.             The subsidy in respect of the supply of the standard telephone service for the 2008-2009 financial year is $17,131,189.

2.             The subsidy in respect of the supply, installation and maintenance of payphones for the 2008-2009 financial year is $2,183,183.