The state’s peak business organisation, the NSW Business Chamber, is calling for the introduction of a National Broadband Service Guarantee.
This is the central plank of the Chamber’s submission to the ACCC’s Inquiry into NBN wholesale service standards.
Hunter Business Chamber President, Jonathan Vandervoort said that in late 2017 the NSW Business Chamber conducted a statewide survey of members and found delays and disruptions in the roll out of the NBN were costing NSW businesses on average more than$9,000.
“That’s simply not good enough when you consider the amount of business done via the internet and phone, especially for regionally based businesses (like the Hunter region).We have too many examples where businesses can’t trade or process transactions because of serious failures with broadband services,” Jonathan said.
“The issues relate primarily to a lack of accountability, responsibility and cooperation between the parties involved in the provision of broadband services.
“There does not seem to be any real coordination between these parties on the management of customer outcomes, even something as simple as turning up to service appointments proves challenging.
“The introduction of a National Broadband Service Guarantee would protect businesses and ensure service providers are held to account for this essential service.”
Key planks of the National Broadband Service Guarantee proposed by the NSW Business Chamber include:
- Guaranteed service standards where the business customer may be entitled to compensation for a failure to deliver to set standards;
- Specifications and quality checks of installation work and coordination of works;
- Connection offers containing terms and conditions relevant to the connection and service levels;
- Effective management of customer site visits between parties;
- Requirements to maintain service continuity when customers migrate to the NBN. Specifically,the management of the connection, disconnection and reconnection of premises,including where the disconnection has impacted non-NBN customers due to NBN work;
- Dispute resolution and consultation procedures;
- A compliance, performance and reporting regime underpinned by enforcement provisions which include civil penalties; and
- Establishment of a customer consultative group (made up of business, community and residential stakeholders) to advise on broadband impacts.
“The guarantee would be enforced by a single regulator, namely the ACCC, who would be responsible for all compliance,” Jonathan said.
“The introduction of a National Broadband Service Guarantee would result in improved collaboration in the delivery of broadband services and help reduce the frustration and confusion currently faced by consumers in resolving faults and service failures.
“Drop-outs, poor installations, and service faults are crippling for business and something needs to be done urgently to put the onus back on the parties supplying broadband services to deliver what they promise by assuming responsibility and better coordinating their efforts.”
IMAGE |Hunter Business Chamber and NSW Business Chamber are calling for the introduction of a National Broadband Service Guarantee.
