The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has opened submissions to the release of the ‘Enhancing telecommunications regulatory and funding frameworks’ discussion document.

The NZ Relay range of services is provided by the Crown for people with communications disabilities. MBIE funds NZ Relay to provide equal work and lifestyle opportunities for those with speech, hearing and vision disabilities. These services assist people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired and deafblind to communicate with others over the phone, with the help of a relay assistant.

We are seeking feedback on telecommunications regulatory issues that may impact businesses and consumers.

Significant government-led programmes are working to improve broadband and mobile connectivity for New Zealanders.

Government-led connectivity programmes such as the Ultra-Fast Broadband Programme, Rural Broadband Initiative Mobile Black Spot Fund, Rural Capacity Upgrades Programme and Remote Users Scheme are delivering improved broadband and mobile services to New Zealanders.

Each quarter, a Quarterly Connectivity Update is published reporting on the progress of the government's broadband and mobile programmes.

The Government has announced it is working with New Zealand’s 3 major network operators (Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees) and shared network infrastructure provider Dense Air to enable improvements to rural connectivity and the accelerated roll-out of 5G services to small towns across New Zealand.

The Minister of Business, Innovation and Employment, with the Office for Disability Issues, asked to help move to better, more modern video interpreting and relay services to help Deaf, deafblind, hearing impaired and speech-impaired New Zealanders to communicate with hearing people over the phone.

MBIE is seeking submissions on an exposure draft of regulations to be made under sections 227 and 228 of the Telecommunications Act 2001. The feedback from this consultation will be used to advise the Government on the final form of the regulations that identify the anchor services and direct fibre access service that the wholesale supplier (Chorus) must offer its customers in the new regulatory regime.