Action on chorus of disapproval
Several thousand people who have had trouble ordering ultrafast broadband because of access issues and objections from neighbours are being advised to give it another try.
A new law now in effect is designed to make it easier for people living down shared driveways or in apartment complexes to connect to the fibre-optic network, over objections from neighbours.
Chorus spokesman Nathan Beaumont said its best estimate was that about 10,000 orders for UFB had been blocked because of issues with property consents.
The network company believed that with the new law in place, about 70 per cent of those orders could now proceed.
‘‘It should make a big difference. We had quite a few cases of people being frustrated they couldn’t get fibre because their neighbour said ‘no’, for no particular reason,’’ he said.
Communications Minister Simon Bridges said people who had faced difficulties, and wanted to try again, should contact an internet provider.
The new rules mean consent from affected neighbours may not be required if installation involves disturbing only soft surfaces such as grass, or stringingup overhead cables that are deemed to have ‘‘minimal visual impact’’.
‘‘For installs that require a bit more work – for example an incision about 1cm wide being made in a [shared] concrete drive to conceal a cable – neighbours will be provided a high-level design of what is proposed and will have 15 working days to object.
‘‘If they don’t object within the 15 working days, then their consent is deemed.’’
A new disputes resolution scheme has been set up to handle arguments that flow from the new rules.
Bridges said that would protect the interests of property owners while ‘‘ensuring that any disputes that arise as a result of the new consenting regime are dealt with fairly and efficiently’’.