Telecom campaigners cheer commission's 0867 decision

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Anti-0867 campaigners were jubilant yesterday that the Commerce Commission was taking Telecom New Zealand to court over its controversial single-prefix internet access system.

"I think it's bloody brilliant," said Geoff Palmer, the Wellington journalist who led a campaign against the 2 cents a minute charge to users not using the 0867 prefix.

Mr Palmer had argued that the extra internet charges had broken Telecom's Kiwi Share agreement, which guarantees free local calls.

Over the past two months Telecom has backed down from three separate Disputes Tribunal actions brought by Mr Palmer, Christchurch-based Mike van Lokven and Aucklander Brian Fairchild who had refused to pay the charges.

Though the Commerce Commission has alleged that the 0867 system deterred competition from other telecommunications and internet companies, Mr Palmer said the court action vindicated the stand he and his fellow campaigners had taken.

He would have welcomed an indication that the commission was going to take action earlier on.

"It's certainly taken a while. I presume that means that they have a solid case," he said.

Mr van Lokven was "absolutely ecstatic" on hearing the news.

"It's a big relief, as it means Telecom won't be reintroducing those wretched fees. It's wonderful that we are finally seeing some justice actually happening."

However he was angry that the commission had taken almost a year to act. "If this had come earlier we wouldn't have had to waste time bringing the matter to court ourselves."

Mr Fairchild said he was "glad someone was looking after the little guy."

"It's all very well for Telecom and Clear to slug it out but in the end it's the customer who ends up paying."

He believed hundreds or thousands of people had paid non-0867 access charges without realising.

"What is Telecom going to do about all those people who paid the bills?" he said. "Many of them wouldn't have noticed the internet charges. It took two months before I did."