Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
National Broadband Network submissions due
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today reminded stakeholders of upcoming deadlines for regulatory issues and remote areas broadband solutions submissions.
Submissions on regulatory issues associated with the National Broadband Network (NBN) close on 25 June 2008. Submissions on broadband solutions for remote areas close on 30 June 2008.
“The Government has given all parties a reasonable period to prepare policy submissions, and there are clear advantages to leaving the deadlines unchanged,” Senator Conroy said.
“The submissions are vitally important inputs for the NBN and Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC) processes.”
Submissions on regulatory issues associated with the NBN will be available to proponents to help them shape their regulatory proposals. They will also be considered by the Panel of Experts that will consider proposals to rollout and maintain the NBN.
RTIRC will consider submissions on broadband solutions for remote areas. These submissions will further inform its report to Government which is due in August 2008.
Submission deadlines are made clear in a clarification to the NBN Request for Proposals documentation. Regulatory Submissions must be received by 3.00pm AEST 25 June 2008. Submissions on policy and funding initiatives to provide enhanced broadband to rural and remote areas remain due by 5.00pm AEST 30 June 2008.
The Government will make regulatory submissions publicly available, but reserves the right not to publish submissions or parts of submissions where it considers it appropriate to do so for confidentiality or other reasons.
More information on the National Broadband Network and the submissions process can be found on the Department's website, www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork
Date: 5 June 2008
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457