2GB's chief shock-jock Alan Jones this morning had a golden opportunity to grill opposition leader Tony Abbott on the Coalition's alternatives to the National Broadband Network, but he made not the slightest attempt to pursue it.

A New Zealand Government task force set up to recommend ways to close the income gap between NZ and Australia has launched a stinging attack on the Government's plans to fund a widespread fibre to the home network.

Failure of the telecoms reform bill to get through Parliament has given Telstra a window of opportunity to wring from the Government more favourable terms in return for its involvement in the NBN.

Australia’s federal government has come out with an offer that Australia’s dominant and supposedly independent telco, Telstra, seemingly cannot refuse: structurally separate the company or the government will do it for you.

The legislation announced today by communications minister Stephen Conroy goes further than most of the industry had expected "I keep checking that the date isn't 1st April" one CE commented). It's the second big surprise the minister has pulled out of the hat this year.

The new consumers telecommunications body, ACCAN is proposing to expand its scope to cover broadcasting and to demand legislation requiring that the government formally respond when presented with evidence of systemic failures in the telecoms and broadcasting markets. Also on the table is a proposal that it lobby for "The abandonment or reform of self-regulation to a best practice system that better delivers consumer outcomes, and is more technology neutral."

In a colourful speech today, Allan Asher, the new CEO of the Australian Communications Consumers Action Network (ACCAN) has given telco service providers a tongue lashing. He warned that they risk having their reputations publicly questioned in the media by the new telecoms consumer peak body if they don't pick up their game.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy has issued draft guidelines for the Government's "$60 million" Digital Regions Initiative, and they indicate funding will be only $53.4m. A spokesman for the minister said that $6.6m had been set aside to cover administration and running costs for the four years of the programme.

Late last year Australia's communications minister, Stephen Conroy promised to release, in 2009, a Digital Economy Future Directions. He has now promised this in the next few weeks, and given a foretaste of what it will contain.

With the benefit of 40 years in telecoms engineering, management and consulting Ross Kelso brings an informed and independent perspective to the debate around Australia's National Broadband Networks and his submission to the Government's review of the regulatory environment has some interesting ideas.