Personally, I think that while Kiwis are left wanting in many areas, the incumbent telcos ARE putting an effort in, and in some cases, that effort is well beyond what is required, with some quite cool innovation coming through.

For example - Telecom NZ pumping out EVDO mobile broadband to every major town and city in NZ a few years back, Vodafone NZ with their at-home mobile boxes, data pricing on both networks, that in the top pricing bracket (ie 1GB+1GB) actually represent very good value for money for most normal users. Vodafone is calling on the Government to modernise the Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO) by making it contestable and open to a range of technologies.

The current method of providing basic phone service through a legislated private monopoly is out of date and doesn’t meet the needs of the rural sector" says Vodafone’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Tom Chignell. Twenty years ago when the original Kiwi Share was established there was only one provider in the market.

Today at least 70% of the so-called "non viable" customers are within the coverage of either Vodafone's or Telecom's mobile networks, or both. These networks can be used to deliver a better service than many rural customers currently receive. Now there are many providers and most of the TSO services can be delivered by other technologies such as mobile and satellite. The TSO should be technology neutral so customers have the choice of how the service is provided.

They should not have to be tied to a copper line if they can get a better service on another network," says Chignell. The intention of the TSO policy is to ensure that all New Zealanders have access to affordable basic telephone services but in effect the current arrangement does the opposite. It pushes up the price of home lines in towns by force-feeding a landline calling package that does not suit many families.

Increasingly, a number of households now use pre-paid mobiles as a cheaper alternative. In effect, these customers are forced to subsidise much wealthier Telecom landline customers who happen to live in rural areas. Rather than use a 20 year old regulation to prop up Telecom’s increasingly creaky rural copper network as the only way of reaching these customers, we should be thinking much more creatively about innovative ways of serving rural customers," says Chignell.

Increased competition and a new technology neutral approach to delivering telephone services will help to drive greater investment and an improvement in services. Continuing with the current approach will only exacerbate the problems associated with Telecom’s underinvestment in its rural network. When Vodafone invests in rural areas we also have to subsidise Telecom, our biggest competitor, in those areas through the TSO.

If all providers can compete to provide rural customers with the basic services on a level playing field, those customers will be much better served and the number for whom a subsidy is required to remain "economic" will shrink dramatically," says Chignell.

There may also be a role for the Government and industry in funding the installation cost of satellite dishes for the most remote residential customers who would otherwise find the commercial service unaffordable. Vodafone has also welcomed the report released last week by the Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) which is currently reviewing the best way to provide basic residential telephone service.

The TCF’s report is a very useful contribution to the debate around TSO reform" says Chignell. As a member of the TCF we will work closely with government to get a technology neutral TSO standard and an approach that gives customers choice, promotes investment and is transparent."

Key Facts: The Telecommunications Service Obligation is shared between eight telecommunications providers and is paid each year to Telecom to supply the TSO service.. The most recent draft total cost was $78.3 million for the 2005 06. The Kiwi Share was part of the Telecom articles of association and agreed before privatisation. Arguably, therefore, the cost of the TSO (or the Kiwi Share as it was then) was built into the original asking price for Telecom when it was initially sold by the Government in 1990.

Subsequently, there were long-running disputes between entrants and Telecom in the 1990s over the amount of the interconnection price that was devoted to so-called "kiwi share losses". Accordingly competitors are understandably annoyed at now also having to pay a levy to Telecom towards any losses associated with the TSO.

Especially when Telecom retains the rights to be the monopoly provider, there is no contestability of the industry funding for TSO and the more successful entrants are the more they have to pay Telecom under the current TSO arrangements. At current Commerce Commission calculations, Vodafone will pay a total of $75.7 million plus interest over five years to Telecom.

For that amount Vodafone could have built its own network out by an additional 33% providing much greater coverage to rural New Zealand. Vodafone estimates that around 70% of the "commercially non-viable customers" are in fact already covered by more than one network provider – casting doubt on just how "non-viable" they actually are.

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The group reopened the Silver Street garden, dramatically shut down last year, and held a barbecue for members of the public. The scene at the garden â " full of people enjoying food and listening to music â " was in stark contrast to scenes in October, when Thames Valley Police officers and Reading Borough Council officials forced the gardeners out. This prompted disappointment among the gardeners who decided to take matters into their own hands over the weekend and reopen.

Gardener David Oâ Connell said: â I was very impressed by the turn-out, I expect perhaps 150 to 200 people came in to have a look throughout the day. Many signed our petition to keep the land open for public use and agreed any future use of the site must be decided by referendum of the community â " and passing motorists beeped their horns in support as they drove past.

Our free food and music was incredibly popular, â " during the day people took their families along to enjoy the space and contribute food and drink. It was really nice to see strangers all meeting in a community space.â And there was more good news â " Reading Borough Council has preliminarily agreed on two potential sites for a new garden.

Katesgrove Residentsâ Association and the council have worked together and hope to turn land either at the corner of Southampton Street and Crown Street or at the junction of Elgar Road and Berkeley Avenue â " or both sites â " into a new garden for the community. The garden or gardens would become the responsibility of the residentsâ association and would be designed and run by local homeowners.

Katesgrove councillor and council leader David Sutton said: â The way the council officers have worked creatively to identify these two new community gardens is excellent. The residentsâ association are on board and welcome a new garden. They are potentially lovely sites.â Fellow Katesgrove councillor Gareth Epps added: â The idea of transforming wasteland into open spaces for the community makes great sense.

There is an acknowledged shortage of open space in this part of Katesgrove and a community garden would make a great resource for many local residents.â Although Saturdayâ s event went without a hitch it was not carried out with the councilâ s approval.

Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: â The holding of any event on the site would be unauthorised, as it is private land. The councilâ s principal concern is with the health and safety of members of the public who try to enter the premises or the garden and as such we would not advise any member of the public to try to access the site.

The council did not consent to any event nor does it accept any liability for damage or injury and anybody who enters the site would do so at their own risk.â MyWeb Ma.gnolia Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?

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Adam Greener was armed with a silver revolver when he got into a woman's car at the junction of Roman Road and Rockliffe Road, in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, and said: "Drive or I'll shoot you." Under the influence of drugs, he tried to snatch the driver's handbag from the passenger seat of the Peugeot 206, which was stationary in traffic, Teesside Crown Court heard.

After the driver began screaming for help Greener jumped out of the car but left the imitation firearm in the footwell. Greener, 20, of Westbourne Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob 46-year-old mum Kay Cotton, from the Eston area, of her handbag on January 15, and possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery.

Prosecutor Ian West suggested Greener had gone out with the intention of committing an armed robbery at the Tesco store on Roman Road, but due to the time being just after 4pm had found it full of school children buying sweets and gave up.

He didn't get a chance to do something which would have been more profitable than taking Mrs Cotton's handbag," added Mr West. He said Greener was arrested when he returned to the scene of the crime shortly after fleeing the car. The court heard he had been to a nearby family member's home where he changed his clothes. Local shopkeepers were able to point him out at the scene to police officers. His defence barrister Peter Sabiston said: "He has expressed a degree of remorse.

He cannot fully explain what he did that afternoon other than this - he had been taking too many drugs." Judge Brian Forster said: "This lady was clearly shocked at what had happened. She started screaming and banging on the car window. It's quite clear that she seems to have expected the worst.

This is one of the most serious set of circumstances one could find, it involves the specific statement by you - & 8216;Drive, or I will shoot you'. It is difficult to comprehend a more frightening situation." The court was told the revolver was an imitation which could not have been fired. Judge Forster jailed Greener for four years. Keep up to date with the news.

The pub industry has been accused of acting irresponsibly by offering larger measures. Should pubs limit drinks measures? Your gazettelive Get involved.. We want your local stories, videos and pics.

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