[LINK] Customers may be forced on to NBN to keep phones

[Michael Skeggs mike@bystander.net]

On 12 October 2010 12:51, Max Devlin <lucifer.au at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 12/10/2010, Richard Chirgwin <rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>
>>  As to DSL - eg, "Naked" plans - it's a change of retail / wholesale
>>  relationship. You're still "forced" to connect to Telstra's copper to do
>
> Except that hyour not "forced" to do anything except exercise a choice
> to have an already existing copper wire connected to someone other
> than telstra at the exchange.
>
> The point about fibre is that you might be forced to have/pay for it
> laid across your land whether you want NBN style broadband or not. And
> 55pc of Tasmanians given the chance refused to sign up.
>
> And now your being told that even if you choose not to have NBN fibre
> you are still "forced" to have it laid if you want a phone.
>
> I haven't heard that before. I vote no!
>

The $11bn agreement with Telstra was for the decommissioning of the
copper network and agreement to move Telstra customers to the NBN,
along with access to their ducts to lay the fibre.
You can choose not to have a fibre connection, but your existing
copper link will stop working when your neighbourhood gets the NBN.
The opportunity to vote was in August, unless you are a Telstra
shareholder, in which case you will get a chance at a shareholder
meeting next year.

Regards,
Michael Skeggs