Rural Broadband extension secured

The passing of the Telecommunications (Development Levy) Amendment Levy Bill underscores the Government’s commitment to extending enhanced connectivity to regional New Zealand, says Communications Minister Amy Adams

The Bill passed last night with support from all parties, other than Labour.

“The extension of the Telecommunications Development Levy (TDL) will fund the $100 million expansion of fast, reliable broadband to the regions. It will also establish a $50 million fund to extend mobile coverage in black spot areas such as along main highways and in popular tourist destinations,” says Ms Adams.

“While the Government has made excellent strides with the first phase of the Rural Broadband Initiative, we want to do even more to extend better broadband to rural New Zealanders.”

Nearly 325,000 households and businesses can now connect to RBI services.

Ms Adams says the passing of the Bill through all stages as part of Budget legislation provides stability and certainty to the telecommunications industry and consumers.

“The setting of the levy allows the Government to get on with extending rural broadband to the areas that sit outside the UFB footprint, boosting connectivity across New Zealand, and creating jobs for Kiwis. Next steps of the RBI extension require the funding to be in place and the passing of this legislation enabled this to happen without delay.

The Bill continues the levy at its current level of $50 million to 2018/19. It was previously set to drop to $10 million per annum in 2016/17. This will now occur in 2019/20.

For a consumer on a $19 basic prepaid mobile phone package, the monthly contribution to the TDL is 22 cents. This is the equivalent of the cost of a single text message. The telecommunication companies have incorporated the levy at this level into their costs since 2011, so there is no justification for prices to rise as a result.

“Continuing the TDL at its current level until 2019 will ensure the telecommunications industry invests in rural and remote areas so the connectivity needs of all New Zealanders can be meet irrespective of where they happen to live,” says Ms Adams.

ENDS

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