Media Release

Date set for National Broadband Network proposals

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced 26 November 2008 as the closing date for the submission of National Broadband Network proposals.

"This is a major step forward in the Government's comprehensive plan to provide Australians with higher speed broadband services," Senator Conroy said.

"The National Broadband Network is part of the Rudd Governments plan to drive investment in critical infrastructure and ensure that Australia takes advantage of the many opportunities presented by the digital economy."

Senator Conroy announced today that the last of the network information requested from carriers is available to National Broadband Network proponents. Accordingly, proponents now have 12 weeks to consider the network information before lodging their proposals.

"It has always been the Government's position that the provision of appropriate network information to proponents is vital for the success of the National Broadband Network process and that this should be done as soon as possible," Senator Conroy said.

"Requested network information has now all been received from contributing carriers, reviewed for compliance with the Government's request and is now available to all proponents."

The Government issued its Request for Proposals for the National Broadband Network on 11 April 2008. The closing time has been amended to account for time taken by the Government to necessarily work with carriers to ensure that proponents have access to information about existing networks and time to consider it. The intention is that this will help them prepare robust, competitive proposals.

To safeguard the information, proponents need to have comprehensive security arrangements in place before they can access it. These arrangements are set out in the final instruments issued on 7 August 2008.

More information regarding the National Broadband Network project is available at: www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork

ends

Date: 3 September 2008
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457