KEY POINTS:
The man charged with improving the lot of telecommunications users has had a busy time in the few short weeks since taking up the role of Telecommunications Commissioner.
Ross Patterson, who replaced Douglas Webb in July, has announced prices for competitors accessing Telecom's copper local loop and a plan to regulate the mobile market.
By the end of the year, he will have settled the final price for local loop unbundling and naked DSL (broadband without the need to rent a phone line).
Until the Telecommunications Amendment Act introduced sweeping changes to the regulation of the industry, the commissioner was merely an arbitrator of bilateral industry spats.
However, the new determinations process is initiated by the Commerce Commission and applies to the whole telecommunications industry.
Patterson said the reforms were designed to promote competition for the long-term benefit of users.
He said the effects of the regulation were being seen already - even though determinations were still at the draft stage - with Telecom allowing phone companies to trial equipment in its exchanges and new broadband deals announced by its competitors.
Patterson admitted the ultimate proof of the pudding would be in the eating.
"If end users are getting a far better deal, with greater choice, better service, better quality of service, higher speeds and all the rest of it, then I think that will be the 'before and after' test."
But he remarked that consumers were sometimes like Oliver Twist - always wanting more.
"That's fair comment ... but it's a comparison between what's available today and is available in the future that is the acid test."
