Terms of Reference

Sections 158P and 158Q of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 (the Act) contain the terms of reference for the reviews.

1. The Committee must conduct a review of the adequacy of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
2. In determining the adequacy of those services, the Committee must have regard to whether people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia have equitable access to telecommunications services that are significant to people in those parts of Australia, and currently available in one or more parts of urban Australia.
3. In conducting the review, the Committee must make provision for public consultation and consultation with people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
4. In conducting the review, the Committee must have regard to any policies of the Australian Government notified to it by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The Committee may also have regard to other matters it considers relevant.
5. The Committee must prepare a report of the review and give it to the Minister. The report may set out recommendations to the Australian Government.
6. In formulating a recommendation that the Australian Government should take a particular action, the Committee must assess the costs and benefits of that action.