Aust Govt pumps $270m into rural broadband

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 02 July 2008 21:04

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Seeking to shore up its broadband credentials, the Australian Federal Government is pumping an addition $270.7m into the Australian Broadband Guarantee. It’s being done to ensure metro-comparable broadband services to those in rural and regional areas until its longer term solutions are implemented.

Australian Federal Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released "new program guidelines” designed to “enhance the Australian Broadband Guarantee”.

Senator Conroy said that: “There has been strong interest from industry and consumers in the new Australian Broadband Guarantee and many constructive suggestions have been addressed in the new guidelines to further improve the program.”

iTWire colleague Stephen Withers details the $6000 subsidy each customer can access, along with the speeds and per gigabyte charges that can be expected – and much more besides – in his article entitled “Government boosts bush broadband subsidy for ISPs.”

Senator Conroy continued, saying: “The Rudd Government has allocated $270.7 million for the next phase of the Australian Broadband Guarantee and these new guidelines will ensure that the investment delivers maximum benefit for both providers and consumers.

“For Internet Service Providers, these guidelines will provide certainty in the development of whole-of-region broadband solutions in the more remote regional areas that may not be reached by National Broadband Network.

“Consumers will benefit through the implementation of standard contract clauses, new requirements for repair and maintenance and a requirement to either shape excess data or charge no more than five cents per megabyte beyond the data cap.”

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