Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
On 3 December 2020, the Government introduced changes to Part 20A of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
At present, a small number of new developments are constructed without appropriate pit and pipe infrastructure for telecommunications, leading to inconvenience and additional costs for occupants of these premises when they want to use fixed-line telecommunications like high-speed broadband. The changes are designed to ensure developers (largely unincorporated developers) are required to install this pit and pipe infrastructure in new developments at the time of construction, which is less expensive than having occupants retrofit this infrastructure after construction. Of the seven options explored, the analysis showed option 4 (legislate to require unincorporated developers to provide pit and pipe) had the highest net benefit overall.
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed the RIS as good practice against the Government’s impact analysis requirements. The RIS estimates the average annual regulatory savings of $3.9m.