Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS (CONSUMER PROTECTION AND SERVICE STANDARDS) ACT 1999 - SECT 16

             (1)  Before the end of a claim period, the Minister must determine in writing one or more universal service subsidies for the period. A copy of a determination under this subsection must be published in the Gazette .

             (2)  The Minister must ensure that there is a subsidy for each universal service area in respect of each service obligation. A subsidy may cover one or more universal service areas in respect of one or more service obligations.

             (3)  A determination under this section must specify:

                     (a)  the amount, or a method for working out the amount, of the subsidy; and

                     (b)  the circumstances in which a universal service provider for the claim period is eligible to be paid the subsidy.

             (4)  The circumstances that may be specified include, but are not limited to:

                     (a)  whether the subsidy is payable to a primary universal service provider or a competing universal service provider; and

                     (b)  the types or amount of equipment, goods or services that are supplied to persons in a universal service area.

             (5)  The determination must specify that a subsidy is only payable to a universal service provider who complies with the provider's obligations under section 12C or 13D (whichever is applicable).

             (6)  A determination may specify an amount of subsidy as zero.