"Green Telecommunications spokesman Sue Kedgley's call for the Government to impose fascist control over Telecom's private property is both outrageous and ignorant" says Libertarianz Leader Peter Cresswell.

"Unbundling Telecom's local loop would be a direct violation of the property rights of Telecom and its shareholders. Why should Telecom invest in this country - which it has done so extensively for many years - if it then be forced to open up physical access to its property to competitors?"

"And there is significant competition in broadband services already, says Cresswell. Telstra Saturn has rolled out a parallel telecommunications/broadband network throughout Wellington and Christchurch; IHUG operates a nationwide broadband satellite based network which virtually all farmers can access; Walker Wireless is expanding its radio based broadband network, even as Telecom expands its DSL network. Telecom and Vodafone are also investing in significant upgrading of the data capacity of their cellphone networks" notes Cresswell.

"Kedgley again shows her ignorance, this time of the extent of competition in telecommunications," says Cresswell. "If the Greens really want more competition then the Greens should call off their opposition to Telstra Saturn laying overhead cables to compete with Telecom; further, they should cease their opposition to the development of Telecom and Vodafone's cellular networks - despite using cellphones themselves on a daily basis!"

Cresswell notes that Telstra Saturn's business plan to expand its local network to 65% of the population is only held up by the Resource Management Act, which he says "is making it difficult and expensive for the company to roll out services across Auckland."

He confirms that "Libertarianz would scrap the pointless Telecommunications Bill, and let the competition which has thrived in the least regulated telecommunications market in the world continue to grow - without Sue Kedgley getting her fascist fingers on something she does not own!"

It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!

ENDS

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