From Stuff.co.nz
Telecom ordered to open up lines
13 December 2006
Parliament today passed legislation forcing Telecom to open its copper wires to competitors.
The house was sitting under urgency to progress a number of bills, including the telecommunications legislation. The Telecommunications Amendment Act also created operational as well as accounting separation for Telecom’s retail and wholesale businesses.
It has not split ownership of divisions.
Only ACT opposed the bill, which passed 119-2.
When the Government announced in May it would legislate the change to the fixed-line network Telecom shares lost a third of their value.
Communications Minister David Cunliffe said it was a landmark bill that would bring faster and better broadband to New Zealanders.
