The web team received a feedback submission on 15 November, and a subsequent email on 17 November from a resident of a large community located at Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove. That community is also frustrated that its only telecoms provider is Pivit.
Website feedback submission | 15 November 2016
‘I’m a resident in a large community in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane. We too are forced to use the Pivit monopoly for internet and even “free” to air TV. All because of our state government’s decision when our community was created.
I came across your community’s issues after doing a bit of research with ACCC. You may wish to have your legal team have a read of:
I hope this helps your community.‘
Subsequent email | 17 November 2016
‘I also read about your issues with Pivit and the HD Foxtel antenna. Pivit won’t even maintain the TV antenna which is rusted and at risk of coming off a 7 level building during a storm.
We found our state government is actually on the side of Pivit. They used their position within our principle body corporate to sell our privately owned fibre network to Pivit for the grand sum of $1. The state government are just as responsible.
From my reading of that ACCC document it appears that the ACCC are going after these “vertically integrated” aka monopoly broadband providers especially as the federal government have decided not to roll out NBN to places like ours since Pivit got federal government approval to declare that they “adequately service” the area.
It looks like ACCC will force companies like Pivit to provide wholesale access to their networks, which would hopefully mean we get choice of retailer.
If I find out anything, I’ll pass it on.’
CA EC proposed action
The web team forwarded this information to the CA EC, and it was decided that it would be best to await the ACCC’s final verdict before taking further action. At that stage the new rules will presumably be set in stone, and it will be up to the alternative retail service providers to approach Pivit and others like it to obtain access to the existing infrastructure and provide choice to current users. We can live in hope!
