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aardvark (ard'-vark) a controversial animal with
a long probing nose used for sniffing out the facts and stimulating thought
and discussion.
NZ's leading source of Net-Industry news and commentary since 1995 |
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Telecom's Competitors Take it to the Public
9 February 2004 A group of Telecom's competitors have today launched a campaign aimed at lobbying the government to ignore the recommendations of the Commerce Commission in respect to unbundling the local loop. Flying under the banner of "Call For Change", the campaign invites people to ring a toll-free number (0508 4 242643) to voice their desire for full local-loop unbundling rather than the watered down CC recommendations. Internet users can save themselves a phone call by visiting the website at www.callforchange.co.nz and clicking on the "YES" or "NO" buttons provided. Behind this lobbying move are a group of the country's alternative voice and data carriers consisting of TelstraClear, CallPlus, iHug and Compass Communications. According to this group, Telecom residential customers living outside the very few areas where there is any form of competition are paying as much as $84 per year more than those living where alternatives to Telecoms service exist. The campaign's website also offers a long list of questions and answers which offer further explanation for the rationale and justification for this lobbying. A Telecom spokesperson has been quoted by the media as saying that any of its competitors are free to set up their own alternative services.
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