Broadband Challenge Grant Audit

Jonathan Brewer made this Official Information Act request to Ministry of Economic Development

The request was partially successful.

From: Jonathan Brewer

15 November 2011

Dear Ministry of Economic Development,

In September of 2006 the MED announced that a grant of $2,372,353
was made to Smartlinx 3 for an urban fibre network that would
"encourage competitive and innovative services and should provide
two-way data transfer rates of at least one Gigabyte [sic] a
second...".

By the terms of the grant, SmartLinx 3 was to have provided "at
least matching funding either in cash, or in terms of contribution
of effort and assets" towards the completion of the project.

The MED reported that "SmartLinx3 is deploying an open-access mixed
fibre and wireless network in Hutt City, Upper Hutt and Porirua.
The core of the network is intended to be fibre across urban and
suburban areas, and will use wireless spectrum to deliver full
community coverage. This network will extend Smartlinx3’s existing
network in the region. It will service tertiary and research
institutions in the coverage area, as well as business and
community organisations."

I would like MED to answer several questions about this project:

1. What was the footprint of the existing SmartLinx 3 network at
the time of the grant?

2. Where was the new fibre and wireless capacity added?

3. What new services were brought to the market as a result of the
grant?

4. Did SmartLinx3 contribute matching funds?

5. Was an audit done on the project, and if so, will it be made
public?

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Brewer

Link to this

From: Jonathan Brewer

21 December 2011

Dear Ministry of Economic Development,

I sent a request for information on 15 November 2011 about a 2006
grant to SmartLinx3.

To date this request has not been answered.

The Ministry of Justice, in their briefing on Official Information,
state that

a.) the act exists "to promote the accountability of Ministers of
the Crown and government officials"

and

b.) a "request must be answered within 20 working days"

This briefing referenced above was accessed Wednesday, 21 December
2011, at this URL:
http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/...

Twenty working days passed on or around the 13th of December. Can
you please advise when the Ministry will respond to my request?

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Brewer

Link to this

From: Info at Med
Ministry of Economic Development

21 December 2011

Good Morning

Thank you for your query to the Ministry of Economic Development.

I have forwarded your request to the relevant department for their attention.

With thanks

Sharon Neill  | BizInfo Lead Advisor| Ministry of Economic Development
Toll Free 0800 42 49 46
www.med.govt.nz

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services
Ministry of Economic Development

9 January 2012

Hello Jonathan,

 

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) has received your Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated the 16^th of November 2011,
concerning the Broadband Challenge Grant Audit.

 

This request was received into our Business Services Centre in
Christchurch via the Info at MED email inbox on the 16^th of November.
Unfortunately, the processing of this request was delayed and it was not
forwarded on to the Ministerial Services team at MED for response until
the 22^rd of December 2011.

 

My sincere apologies for this delay. It is our policy to process OIA
requests the same day they are received and it is unacceptable that there
was such a delay in the processing of your request. Our team in
Christchurch is looking into the reason for this delay, and is taking
steps to ensure any issues with our system are corrected as soon as
possible.

 

As a result of this delay, the 20 working day time period for response to
your request has lapsed and your request may be deemed to be refused (in
accordance with section 28(4) of the OIA). You have the right by way of
complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an Ombudsman, to seek an
investigation and review of this refusal to release the information
requested.

 

However, this request has not been substantively refused by MED, and we
will continue to respond to your request with urgency. Please do not
hesitate to contact me  in the meantime should you have any queries about
how your request is being processed.

 

Once again, my apologies for this delay.

 

Regards

 

Victoria Nicholson  | Ministerial Services Advisor

Strategy, Accountability and Information Group |

Organisational Development & Support Branch  

Ministry of Economic Development

DDI: (04) 474 2190

EXT: 42190

 

[1]newzealand.govt.nz - connecting you to New Zealand central & local
government services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://newzealand.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: FYI Requests

9 January 2012

Hello Jonathan,

 

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) has received your Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated the 16^th of November 2011,
concerning the Broadband Challenge Grant Audit.

 

This request was received into our Business Services Centre in
Christchurch via the Info at MED email inbox on the 16^th of November.
Unfortunately, the processing of this request was delayed and it was not
forwarded on to the Ministerial Services team at MED for response until
the 22^rd of December 2011.

 

My sincere apologies for this delay. It is our policy to process OIA
requests the same day they are received and it is unacceptable that there
was such a delay in the processing of your request. Our team in
Christchurch is looking into the reason for this delay, and is taking
steps to ensure any issues with our system are corrected as soon as
possible.

 

As a result of this delay, the 20 working day time period for response to
your request has lapsed and your request may be deemed to be refused (in
accordance with section 28(4) of the OIA). You have the right by way of
complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an Ombudsman, to seek an
investigation and review of this refusal to release the information
requested.

 

However, this request has not been substantively refused by MED, and we
will continue to respond to your request with urgency. Please do not
hesitate to contact me  in the meantime should you have any queries about
how your request is being processed.

 

Once again, my apologies for this delay.

 

Regards

 

Victoria Nicholson  | Ministerial Services Advisor

Strategy, Accountability and Information Group |

Organisational Development & Support Branch  

Ministry of Economic Development

DDI: (04) 474 2190

EXT: 42190

 

[1]newzealand.govt.nz - connecting you to New Zealand central & local
government services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://newzealand.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: FYI Requests

19 January 2012

Attachment OIA SmartLinx3.pdf
0K Download View as HTML

Jonathan,

 

Please find attached a letter responding to your email of 16 November
2011.

 

Regards,

Jane

 

Jane Keane | Senior Policy Analyst | Communications & IT
Energy & Communications Branch
Ministry of Economic Development
Direct Dial: [1]+64 4 474 2193

 

 

[2]newzealand.govt.nz - connecting you to New Zealand central & local
government services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/tel:%2B64%204%20474%202193
2. http://newzealand.govt.nz/

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Economic Development only: