002/05
2 February 2005
Faster Internet Service for Burrum Heads
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced during a visit to Wide Bay today that from April people living in Burrum Heads will have access to ADSL broadband services.
"The Government is committed to ensuring all Australians, regardless of where they live, have access to high quality, affordable telecommunications services," Senator Coonan said.
"We have already invested more than $1 billion into ensuring services, such as broadband technology and mobile phone coverage, are upgraded and improved- particularly for people living in rural, regional and remote Australia.
"Faster internet service will be available in Burrum Heads thanks to this investment, Telstra and the Government's Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS)."
The $107.8 million HiBIS offers financial incentives for service providers to supply high speed broadband services in regional areas at prices comparable to those in metropolitan areas.
There are now more than 20 HiBIS providers, many of them in rural and regional areas, and tens of thousands of regional Australians are now enjoying more affordable and accessible broadband.
"Before HiBIS, 15o people living in Burrum Heads would have had to register their interest for broadband to be provided," Senator Coonan said.
"HiBIS has lowered that broadband demand register threshold to just 35- a target easily met in the Burrum Heads area with 64 expressions of interest already registered.
"This means from March people living in Burrum Heads can now receive ADSL broadband.
"Access to broadband services is critical to the ongoing productivity and survival of our businesses.
"I am pleased that the many residents living in Burrum Heads will now be able to access faster and more reliable internet services.
"These achievements are not possible without a strong local community and a local member who really stands up for his constituents like Warren Truss.
"I congratulate Warren for lobbying so hard for broadband in his electorate."
More information on the Government's HiBIS program is available at www.telinfo.gov.au.
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305