Regular readers and subscribers to the CRLLEN website will be aware of the work the association has been doing to improve and broaden access to telecommunications 
and broadband infrastructure across the communities of Macedon, Mitchell and Murrindindi Shires.
In a blow to progress of the roll-out of high speed telecommunications networks across Australia, Whirlpool, [Australia's largest Broadband Users web site] reports:
Telstra has announced it has called off its talks with the ACCC over its Fibre to the Node (FTTN) network.
The proposal was announced in November last year, with Telstra planning to offer 12Mbit/s ADSL to mainland capital cities by replacing large sections of copper phone lines with fibre.
But the proposal hinged on Telstra achieving a "satisfactory regulatory outcome", which at the time was zero access to competitors. Since that day, Telstra relented and began talks with the ACCC over how competitors could access the network.
But today, Telstra said that discussion had "reached an impasse" and placed the blame squarely on the ACCC. "The major stumbling block was the ACCC's unwillingness to recognise the actual costs that Telstra incurs in providing its services and, especially, the costs it incurs in providing services to rural, regional and remote Australia", said a Telstra statement.
The ACCC says it is "perplexed" over Telstra's decision to stop talks, stating that discussions with Telstra had occurred as recently as yesterday.
Tuesday, 8 August 2006
