130/05
17 November 2005
$1 billion for Broadband in the Bush
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan today released a discussion paper outlining proposals to spend $1 billion on broadband through the Broadband Connect and Clever Networks programs announced as part of the $1.1 billion Connect Australia package.
“Broadband Connect and Clever Networks will deliver innovative, competitive and sustainable broadband solutions for Australians in regional, rural and remote areas,” the Minister said.
“With national broadband usage rates expected to reach 55 per cent by 2009, the $878 million Broadband Connect program is the centrepiece of the Connect Australia package.
“Broadband Connect represents an opportunity to build on the success of the Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) which has provided broadband access to more than 700 000 households across Australia.”
The objective of Broadband Connect is to ensure rural, regional and remote Australians continue to have equitable access to broadband services. Potentially, some 1.6 million homes, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in rural, regional and remote Australia will benefit.
“With eight times the amount of funding originally allocated to HiBIS, Broadband Connect provides more opportunities to deliver sustainable broadband solutions, more room for innovation, and more scope to explore the growing range of new and existing broadband technologies,” the Minister said.
“The Clever Networks program, which complements Broadband Connect, has funding of $113 million to support development and roll-out of new infrastructure, networks and innovative applications to improve delivery of health, education and other essential services in rural, regional and remote areas.
“Clever Networks will combine the successes of the Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund and Demand Aggregation Broker programs with a significant increase in funding to extend coverage and stimulate innovative uses of broadband in the delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia.”
Submissions to the discussion paper are welcome from all interested parties and are due by COB on 18 January 2006.
The discussion paper is available online under ‘key issues’ at www.dcita.gov.au
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305
www.minister.dcita.gov.au