[LINK] Coonan's statement -- correct or not?

[Jan Whitaker]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/federalelection2007/australia-in-digital-dark-age/2007/10/20/1192301086691.html

Coonan:
She said Australia is ahead of the US, Canada, United Kingdom, 
Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and many other developed countries.
Internet prices are competitive because the coalition government's 
telecommunications policy has licensed 167 internet carriers, more 
than the three licensed carriers under the previous Labor government, she said.

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The bit I don't believe is that they 'licence' internet carriers. 
Huh? Does the government licence ANY internet carriers? How does one 
set up an ISP? Aren't many of the 167 resellers?

I don't understand the business, but this statement from Coonan 
didn't sound right.

Jan

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
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