Historic Day for Consumers, Says Drop the Rate, Mate!
The members of the Drop the Rate, Mate! campaign are celebrating an historic win for consumers, as the Commerce
Commission delivers its recommendation to regulate mobile termination rates to the Minister.
Campaign spokesperson Suzanne Chetwin of Consumer NZ, said that the decision was a win for every New Zealander. "There
are more than four million cellphones used in New Zealand, and every user is going to see the benefits of cheaper costs
and better services as a result of this regulation."
The final step in the two-year investigation process is for Steven Joyce, Communications and IT Minister, to decide
whether or not to accept the Commission's recommendation.
"We are confident that Mr Joyce will do the right thing by consumers. There is no longer any doubt that high MTRs are
harmful, and regulation is the right move. This will be the easiest decision Minister Joyce has to make this year, and
let's hope he does so quickly."
The members of Drop the Rate, Mate! also expressed their appreciation for the support of the more than 13,000 Kiwis who
had signed up to the campaign via www.droptherate.org.nz.
"The loudest voice in this debate has been that of the public. Without Kiwis voicing their frustration with the status
quo, we may never have achieved this outcome."
Drop the Rate, Mate! was founded in August 2009 by Airnet NZ Ltd, Consumer NZ, Federated Farmers, the Federation of
Maori Authorities, the New Zealand Union of Students Associations, the Telecommunications Users Association of New
Zealand, 2degrees and the Unite union.
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