{"id":"C2020A00048","name":"Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020","slug":"telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"48 of 2020","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436330,"registerId":"C2020A00048-fast-fetch-1775953560909","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nTelecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020\n\n \n\nNo. 48, 2020\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to impose a charge to support the funding of fixed wireless broadband and satellite broadband, and for related purposes\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Short title\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Definitions\n\n4 Extension to external Territories\n\n5 Act to bind Crown\n\n6 Imposition of charge\n\n7 Amount of charge\n\n8 Person liable to pay charge\n\n9 Annual chargeable premises amount\n\n10 Annual base amount\n\n11 Monthly base amount\n\n12 Base component\n\n13 Advice by the ACCC about base component\n\n14 Annual administrative cost amount\n\n15 Monthly administrative cost amount\n\n16 Administrative cost component\n\n17 Advice by the ACCC about administrative cost component\n\n17A Combined component cap\n\n18 Indexation factor\n\n19 Disallowance of determinations\n\n20 Transitional—reduction in total number of chargeable premises\n\n \n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\n \n\n \n\nTelecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020\n\nNo. 48, 2020\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to impose a charge to support the funding of fixed wireless broadband and satellite broadband, and for related purposes\n\n[Assented to 25 May 2020]\n\nThe Parliament of Australia enacts:\n\n1  Short title\n\n  This Act is the Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. Sections 1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 25 May 2020\n- 2. Sections 3 to 20 At the same time as Schedule 4 to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Act 2020 commences. 26 May 2020\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.\n\n3  Definitions\n\n  In this Act:\n\nACCC means the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.\n\nadministrative cost component, for a month, has the meaning given by section 16.\n\namount includes a nil amount.\n\nannual administrative cost amount, for an eligible financial year, has the meaning given by section 14.\n\nannual base amount, for an eligible financial year, has the meaning given by section 10.\n\nannual chargeable premises amount, for an eligible financial year, has the meaning given by section 9.\n\nbase component, for a month, has the meaning given by section 12.\n\ncarriage service provider has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nchargeable premises associated with a local access line of a person for a month has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\ncombined component cap, for a month, has the meaning given by section 17A.\n\nconnection, in relation to a telecommunications network, has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nNote: See the definition of connected in section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, and section 18A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\ndesignated administrative costs has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\neligible financial year has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\neligible funding recipient has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\neligible service has the same meaning as in section 152AL of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.\n\nfacilities has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nNote: See the definition of facility in section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (when read together with section 18A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).\n\nfixed wireless broadband service has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\nindexation factor, for a financial year, has the meaning given by section 18.\n\nindex number, in relation to a quarter, means the All Groups Consumer Price Index number, being the weighted average of the 8 capital cities, published by the Australian Statistician in respect of that quarter.\n\nmonth means calendar month.\n\nmonthly administrative cost amount, for a month, has the meaning given by section 15.\n\nmonthly base amount, for a month, has the meaning given by section 11.\n\nperson has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\npotentially concessional premises has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\nrecently connected greenfield premises, in relation to a person for a month, has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\nsatellite broadband service has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\ntelecommunications network has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n4  Extension to external Territories\n\n  This Act extends to each external Territory referred to in section 10 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\nNote: See also section 7 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\n5  Act to bind Crown\n\n  This Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory and of the Northern Territory. However, it does not bind the Crown in right of the Commonwealth.\n\n6  Imposition of charge\n\n  If a person has an annual chargeable premises amount for an eligible financial year, charge is imposed on that amount.\n\n7  Amount of charge\n\n  The amount of a charge that this Act imposes on an annual chargeable premises amount for an eligible financial year is equal to that annual chargeable premises amount.\n\n8  Person liable to pay charge\n\n  Charge imposed by this Act on a person’s annual chargeable premises amount for an eligible financial year is payable by the person.\n\n9  Annual chargeable premises amount\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, a person’s annual chargeable premises amount for an eligible financial year is the sum of:\n\n (a) the person’s annual base amount for the eligible financial year; and\n\n (b) the person’s annual administrative cost amount for the eligible financial year.\n\n (2) If a person’s annual chargeable premises amount for an eligible financial year:\n\n (a) is not an amount of whole dollars; and\n\n (b) is above zero;\n\nthe amount is to be rounded to the nearest dollar (rounding 50 cents upwards).\n\n (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), dollar includes $0.\n\n10  Annual base amount\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, a person’s annual base amount for an eligible financial year is the sum of the person’s monthly base amounts for each of the months in the eligible financial year.\n\n (2) If there are no chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for a particular month, disregard that month for the purposes of subsection (1).\n\n11  Monthly base amount\n\n  For the purposes of this Act, a person’s monthly base amount for a month is the amount calculated using the formula:\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nbase component means the base component for that month.\n\nnumber of chargeable premises associated with a local access line means the total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month.\n\nNote: If that month is in the first, second, third, fourth or fifth eligible financial year, the total number may be reduced under section 20.\n\n12  Base component\n\nFirst eligible financial year\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, the base component for a month in the first eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $7.09; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (4) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\nSecond and subsequent eligible financial years\n\n (2) For the purposes of this Act, the base component for a month in:\n\n (a) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) a later financial year;\n\nis:\n\n (c) the amount calculated using the formula in subsection (3); or\n\n (d) if another amount is determined under subsection (4) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (3) The formula mentioned in paragraph (2)(c) is:\n\n![](image.003.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nindexation factor means the indexation factor for the financial year.\n\nprevious base component means the base component for a month in the previous financial year.\n\nDeterminations\n\n (4) The Minister may, by legislative instrument:\n\n (a) for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) for the purposes of paragraph (2)(d), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in a specified financial year.\n\nNote: See also section 19.\n\n (5) In deciding whether to make a determination under subsection (4), the Minister must have regard to the following:\n\n (a) the most recent advice that the ACCC has given to the Minister under section 13;\n\n (b) such other matters (if any) as the Minister considers relevant.\n\n (6) The Minister must not make a determination under subsection (4) unless the ACCC has given advice to the Minister under section 13.\n\n (7) A determination under subsection (4) must not be inconsistent with section 17A (which deals with the combined component cap).\n\n13  Advice by the ACCC about base component\n\n (1) The ACCC:\n\n (a) may give advice to the Minister in relation to the exercise of the Minister’s power under subsection 12(4); and\n\n (b) must do so:\n\n (i) at least once during the 5‑year period beginning at the commencement of this section; and\n\n (ii) at least once during each subsequent 5‑year period.\n\n (2) In giving advice under subsection (1), the ACCC:\n\n (a) must have regard to the principle set out in subsection (3); and\n\n (b) may have regard to such other matters (if any) as the ACCC considers relevant.\n\n (3) The principle mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) is that amounts received by the Commonwealth by way of so much of charge imposed under this Act as is attributable to the annual base amount should be sufficient, over time, to offset reasonable losses incurred by eligible funding recipients in relation to:\n\n (a) the connection of premises to a telecommunications network in order that a carriage service provider can provide:\n\n (i) fixed wireless broadband services to an end‑user at the premises; or\n\n (ii) satellite broadband services to an end‑user at the premises; or\n\n (b) the supply of eligible services to a carriage service provider in order that the carriage service provider can provide:\n\n (i) fixed wireless broadband services to an end‑user at premises; or\n\n (ii) satellite broadband services to an end‑user at premises; or\n\n (c) facilities that are used, or proposed to be used, to supply:\n\n (i) fixed wireless broadband services; or\n\n (ii) satellite broadband services; or\n\n (d) a matter that is incidental or ancillary to a matter mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).\n\n (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), it is immaterial whether losses were incurred before or after the commencement of this section.\n\n (5) In giving advice under subsection (1), the ACCC must assume that Division 6 of Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 had not been enacted.\n\nNote: That Division deals with charge offset certificates.\n\n (6) To avoid doubt, the use of the word “Regional” in:\n\n (a) the short title of this Act; or\n\n (b) the name of the Regional Broadband Scheme Special Account; or\n\n (c) section 92A of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999;\n\ndoes not limit subsection (3) of this section.\n\n14  Annual administrative cost amount\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, a person’s annual administrative cost amount for an eligible financial year is the sum of the person’s monthly administrative cost amounts for each of the months in the eligible financial year.\n\n (2) If there are no chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for a particular month, disregard that month for the purposes of subsection (1).\n\n15  Monthly administrative cost amount\n\n  For the purposes of this Act, a person’s monthly administrative cost amount for a month is the amount calculated using the formula:\n\n![](image.004.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nadministrative cost component means the administrative cost component for that month.\n\nnumber of chargeable premises associated with a local access line means the total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month.\n\nNote: If that month is in the first, second, third, fourth or fifth eligible financial year, the total number may be reduced under section 20.\n\n16  Administrative cost component\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in the first eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $0.01; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (2) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in the second eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $0.00172; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (3) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in the third eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $0.00; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (4) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in the fourth eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $0.0027; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (5) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in the fifth eligible financial year is:\n\n (a) $0.00; or\n\n (b) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (6) For the purposes of this Act, the administrative cost component for a month in:\n\n (a) the sixth eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) a later financial year;\n\nis:\n\n (c) the amount calculated, to 5 decimal places (rounding up if the sixth decimal place is 5 or more), using the formula in subsection (7); or\n\n (d) if another amount is determined under subsection (8) in relation to that month—that other amount.\n\n (7) The formula mentioned in paragraph (6)(c) is:\n\n![](image.005.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nindexation factor means the indexation factor for the financial year.\n\nprevious administrative cost component means the administrative cost component for a month in the previous financial year.\n\nDeterminations\n\n (8) The Minister may, by legislative instrument:\n\n (a) for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (c) for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the third eligible financial year; or\n\n (d) for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the fourth eligible financial year; or\n\n (e) for the purposes of paragraph (5)(b), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in the fifth eligible financial year; or\n\n (f) for the purposes of paragraph (6)(d), determine a single specified amount in relation to each of the months in a specified financial year.\n\nNote: See also section 19.\n\n (9) In deciding whether to make a determination under subsection (8), the Minister must have regard to the following:\n\n (a) the most recent advice that the ACCC has given to the Minister under section 17;\n\n (b) such other matters (if any) as the Minister considers relevant.\n\n (10) The Minister must not make a determination under subsection (8) unless the ACCC has given advice to the Minister under section 17.\n\n (11) A determination under subsection (8) must not be inconsistent with section 17A (which deals with the combined component cap)\n\n17  Advice by the ACCC about administrative cost component\n\n (1) The ACCC:\n\n (a) may give advice to the Minister in relation to the exercise of the Minister’s power under subsection 16(8); and\n\n (b) must do so:\n\n (i) at least once during the 5‑year period beginning at the commencement of this section; and\n\n (ii) at least once during each subsequent 5‑year period.\n\n (2) In giving advice under subsection (1), the ACCC:\n\n (a) must have regard to the principle that amounts received by the Commonwealth by way of so much of charge imposed under this Act as is attributable to the annual administrative cost amount should be sufficient, over time, to offset designated administrative costs incurred after the start of the first eligible financial year; and\n\n (b) may have regard to such other matters (if any) as the ACCC considers relevant.\n\n17A  Combined component cap\n\n (1) The sum of:\n\n (a) the base component for a month; and\n\n (b) the administrative cost component for that month;\n\nmust not exceed the combined component cap for that month.\n\n (2) For the purposes of this Act, the combined component cap for a month in the first eligible financial year is $7.10.\n\n (3) For the purposes of this Act, the combined component cap for a month in:\n\n (a) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) a later eligible financial year;\n\nis the amount calculated using the following formula:\n\n![](image.006.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nindexation factor means the indexation factor for the financial year.\n\nprevious combined component cap means the combined component cap for a month in the previous financial year.\n\n18  Indexation factor\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, the indexation factor for a financial year is the number calculated, to 3 decimal places (rounding up if the fourth decimal place is 5 or more), using the formula:\n\n![](image.007.png)\n\nwhere:\n\nbase March quarter means the last March quarter before the reference March quarter.\n\nreference March quarter means the last March quarter before the financial year.\n\n (2) Subject to subsection (3), if (whether before or after the commencement of this section) the Australian Statistician has published or publishes an index number in respect of a quarter in substitution for an index number previously published in respect of that quarter, the publication of the later index number must be disregarded for the purposes of this section.\n\n (3) If (whether before or after the commencement of this section) the Australian Statistician has changed or changes the index reference period for the Consumer Price Index, then, for the purposes of the application of this section after the change took place or takes place, regard must only be had to the index number published in terms of the new index reference period.\n\n19  Disallowance of determinations\n\nScope\n\n (1) This section applies to a determination made under subsection 12(4) or 16(8).\n\nDisallowance\n\n (2) Either House of the Parliament may, following a motion upon notice, pass a resolution disallowing the determination. For the resolution to be effective:\n\n (a) the notice must be given in that House within 15 sitting days of that House after the copy of the determination was tabled in the House under section 38 of the Legislation Act 2003; and\n\n (b) the resolution must be passed, in pursuance of the motion, within 15 sitting days of that House after the giving of that notice.\n\n (3) If neither House passes such a resolution, the determination takes effect on the day immediately after the last day upon which such a resolution could have been passed if it were assumed that notice of a motion to disallow the determination was given in each House on the last day of the 15 sitting day period of that House mentioned in paragraph (2)(a).\n\n (3A) If:\n\n (a) notice of a motion to disallow the determination is given in a House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the copy of the determination was tabled in that House under section 38 of the Legislation Act 2003; and\n\n (b) at the end of 15 sitting days of that House after the giving of that notice of motion:\n\n (i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or\n\n (ii) the motion has been called on, moved and (where relevant) seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;\n\nthe determination is then taken to have been disallowed, and subsection (3) does not apply to the determination.\n\n (4) Section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply to the determination.\n\nNote 1: The 15 sitting day notice period mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) of this section is the same as the 15 sitting day notice period mentioned in paragraph 42(1)(a) of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nNote 2: The 15 sitting day disallowance period mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) of this section is the same as the 15 sitting day disallowance period mentioned in paragraph 42(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\n20  Transitional—reduction in total number of chargeable premises\n\n25,000 or more potentially concessional premises where no premises are recently connected greenfield premises\n\n (1) For the purposes of this Act, if:\n\n (a) the total number of potentially concessional premises in relation to a person for a month in:\n\n (i) the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (ii) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (iii) the third eligible financial year; or\n\n (iv) the fourth eligible financial year; or\n\n (v) the fifth eligible financial year;\n\n  is 25,000 or more; and\n\n (b) none of the chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month are recently connected greenfield premises in relation to the person for that month;\n\nthe total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month is to be reduced by 25,000.\n\nLess than 25,000 potentially concessional premises where no premises are recently connected greenfield premises\n\n (2) For the purposes of this Act, if:\n\n (a) the total number of potentially concessional premises in relation to a person for a month in:\n\n (i) the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (ii) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (iii) the third eligible financial year; or\n\n (iv) the fourth eligible financial year; or\n\n (v) the fifth eligible financial year;\n\n  is less than 25,000; and\n\n (b) none of the chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month are recently connected greenfield premises in relation to the person for that month;\n\nthe total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month is to be reduced by that total number of potentially concessional premises.\n\n55,000 or more recently connected greenfield premises\n\n (3) For the purposes of this Act, if the total number of recently connected greenfield premises in relation to a person for a month in:\n\n (a) the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (c) the third eligible financial year; or\n\n (d) the fourth eligible financial year; or\n\n (e) the fifth eligible financial year;\n\nis 55,000 or more, the total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month is to be reduced by 55,000.\n\nLess than 55,000 recently connected greenfield premises\n\n (4) For the purposes of this Act, if the total number of recently connected greenfield premises in relation to a person for a month in:\n\n (a) the first eligible financial year; or\n\n (b) the second eligible financial year; or\n\n (c) the third eligible financial year; or\n\n (d) the fourth eligible financial year; or\n\n (e) the fifth eligible financial year;\n\nis less than 55,000, the total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line of the person for that month is to be reduced by that total number of recently connected greenfield premises.\n\nException—subordinate members of associated groups\n\n (5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a person for a month if the person is a subordinate member of an associated group during the whole or a part of the month.\n\nAssociated group\n\n (6) For the purposes of this section, if:\n\n (a) a person is in a position to exercise control of:\n\n (i) a local access line; or\n\n (ii) a telecommunications network; and\n\n (b) the person has one or more associates;\n\nthen:\n\n (c) the person is taken to belong to an associated group; and\n\n (d) the associated group consists of the person and those associates; and\n\n (e) each of those associates is a subordinate member of the associated group.\n\n (7) For the purposes of subsection (6), the question of whether a person is in a position to exercise control of:\n\n (a) a local access line; or\n\n (b) a telecommunications network;\n\nis to be determined in the same manner in which that question is determined for the purposes of Part 8 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n (8) For the purposes of subsection (6), the question of whether a person has one or more associates is to be determined in the same manner in which that question is determined for the purposes of Part 8 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.\n\n (9) For the purposes of subsection (7), local access line has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\n[Minister’s second reading speech made in—\n\nHouse of Representatives on 28 November 2019\n\nSenate on 13 February 2020]\n\n(224/19)\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act’s text confines scope to imposing a per‑premises charge on carriage service providers to fund fixed wireless and satellite broadband and sets the calculation, indexation, cap and transitional rules necessary to collect that charge (see ss 6–17, 20). It applies to providers with chargeable premises, reaches external Territories and binds States/territories (ss 4–5). The Act itself contains no provision that expands or narrows that objective beyond its stated funding mechanism."},"complexity_factors":["Interlocking arithmetic: annual amounts are built from monthly base and administrative amounts that are allocated per chargeable premises and then aggregated (ss 9–11, 14–16).","Indexation mechanics: indexation factor is a CPI‑based formula tied to March quarters with specific rounding rules (s 18).","Ministerial discretion with procedural checks: the Minister may determine component amounts by legislative instrument but only after ACCC advice and subject to parliamentary disallowance (s 12(4)–(7), s 13; s 16(8)–(11), s 17; s 19).","Cap interaction: the base component and administrative component cannot together exceed a combined component cap that itself is indexed (s 17A).","Transitional complexity: five‑year transitional reductions apply to chargeable premises counts based on thresholds for potentially concessional and recently connected greenfield premises, including associated group and subordinate member rules (s 20).","Cross‑references: many key terms and thresholds reference other Acts and Parts (Telecommunications Act 1997; Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999; Competition and Consumer Act 2010), increasing interpretive load (s 3).","Precision and rounding rules: multiple provisions specify rounding, decimal places and tiny administrative amounts (s 9(2); s 16(6)), which affect per‑premise billing and reconciliation.","Liability and payment mechanics are centralized: charge is imposed on and payable by the person who has an annual chargeable premises amount (ss 6–8), so providers must maintain systems to count, calculate and remit charges.","Territorial and Crown scope limits: extends to external Territories and binds State/territory Crowns but does not bind the Commonwealth Crown (ss 4–5)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act creates a per‑premises charge on carriage service providers to raise money for fixed wireless and satellite broadband. Providers must count monthly “chargeable premises” and pay an annual charge equal to a base component plus an administrative component, both indexed and capped, with transitional reductions for large providers. The Minister can set component amounts after ACCC advice and Parliament can disallow those determinations. Providers with more regional premises pay more; funds are directed to eligible funding recipients."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: imposing a charge to fund regional broadband infrastructure. While the mechanism involves complex calculations and transitional arrangements, these are implementation details rather than scope creep. The scheme has not expanded beyond its core objective of supporting fixed wireless and satellite broadband in regional areas."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on **defined terms imported from other Acts** — 15+ terms are borrowed from the Telecommunications Act 1997, Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, and Competition and Consumer Act 2010, creating a web of cross-referenced definitions.","**Nested calculation formulas** — The charge amount flows through multiple layers: monthly base amount → annual base amount → annual chargeable premises amount → final charge, with similar layering for administrative costs.","**Conditional logic with time-based variations** — Different base component rates apply for the first five eligible financial years ($7.09, then indexed), with administrative cost components varying year-by-year ($0.01, $0.00172, $0.00, $0.0027, $0.00, then indexed).","**Complex transitional relief in section 20** — Four separate reduction scenarios based on thresholds of 25,000 potentially concessional premises or 55,000 recently connected greenfield premises, with an exception for subordinate members of associated groups requiring control/associate tests from Part 8 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.","**Ministerial discretion with constraints** — The Minister can override the statutory formulas via legislative instrument, but must: (a) receive ACCC advice first, (b) consider that advice, (c) stay within the combined component cap, and (d) face disallowance by Parliament.","**Indexation mechanics** — CPI indexation with specific rounding rules (3 decimal places, rounding up), plus provisions for handling ABS index reference period changes and substituted index numbers."],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates a **Regional Broadband Scheme Charge** — essentially a tax on large telecommunications companies to help pay for internet infrastructure in regional and remote Australia.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Imposes a monthly charge** on telecommunications companies that own local access lines (the physical infrastructure connecting homes and businesses to phone/internet networks).\n- The charge is calculated based on how many **chargeable premises** (properties connected to their network) the company has, with two components:\n  - **Base component**: Funds the actual cost of providing fixed wireless and satellite broadband services to regional areas\n  - **Administrative cost component**: Covers the bureaucracy of running the scheme\n- **Caps the total charge** at $7.10 per premises per month (indexed for inflation in later years).\n\n**Who pays:**\n- **Carriage service providers** (phone and internet companies) with **chargeable premises** — but only those with significant infrastructure. The law includes **transitional reductions** that effectively exempt smaller players:\n  - Companies with fewer than 25,000 potentially concessional premises get a full reduction\n  - Companies with fewer than 55,000 recently connected greenfield premises also get reductions\n  - These reductions apply for the first five years of the scheme.\n\n**Who benefits:**\n- **Eligible funding recipients** (primarily NBN Co) receive money from a special account to offset their losses from providing broadband services in regional, rural, and remote areas where it's not commercially viable.\n\n**Key features:**\n- The **ACCC** (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) advises the Minister on setting charge rates every 5 years.\n- The Minister can determine different amounts by **legislative instrument** (a type of regulation), but Parliament can disallow these.\n- Charges are **indexed** to CPI (Consumer Price Index) to maintain value over time.\n- The scheme runs through **eligible financial years** — essentially operating year-to-year with built-in review mechanisms.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is how the government ensures regional Australia gets broadband without either: (a) leaving remote users with no service, or (b) forcing city users to subsidise regional users through higher prices. Instead, the companies that own the infrastructure pay into a pool that funds the regional network."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-regional-broadband-scheme-charge-act-2020/documents"}}