Media Release

Budget 2009: Rural and Regional NBN Initiative to drive broadband benefits for communities

Regional, rural and remote communities will realise the benefits of broadband through the new $80 million Rural and Regional National Broadband Network Initiative included in the 2009-10 Budget.

"This initiative builds on the Government's significant investment in the National Broadband Network (NBN) by supporting initiatives that improve service delivery and promote broadband take-up and use in regional, rural and remote communities," the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said.

The Government's initiative includes three measures:

• $15.3 million over three years for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to expand its ABC Local Regional Broadband Hubs
  
  
• an additional $14 million over four years to boost the Digital Regions Initiative funding to $60 million
  
  
• $5 million over four years to fund Rural NBN Coordinators.

The ABC will receive new funding under this initiative to encourage and assist the development of user generated content and create online avenues for local communities to connect and collaborate. The ABC will establish community websites and portals, and create 'virtual town squares' for communities to share experiences.

This new funding provides for more than 50 enhanced regional broadband hubs to be rolled out over the next three years. Funding will be used to identify and employ local producers to work on cross-media stories and to train audiences to create their own content.

"The expanded interactive sites will build awareness of local issues and stimulate and facilitate community-generated content. They will be supported by education, training and equipment to enable local communities to generate and publish their own content," Senator Conroy said.

"This new funding will complement the roll-out of the Government's National Broadband Network and will build on ABC Local Radio's established track-record as a key participant in recruiting and assisting storytellers in local communities."

The Digital Regions Initiative was announced on 5 March 2009 as part of the Government's initial response to the Regional Telecommunications Review. It will fund innovative digital education, health and emergency services projects in regional, rural and remote communities in partnership with state, territory and local governments.

"A funding boost to the Digital Regions Initiative will result in more projects that deliver the benefits of broadband directly to regional, rural and remote communities," Senator Conroy said.

Another key element of this initiative is the appointment of Rural NBN Coordinators to encourage local government, community and business usage of broadband to improve broadband affordability.

"A key role for these coordinators will be to encourage take-up of the opportunities provided by the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program, improving the competitive market in regional Australia," Senator Conroy said.

"The Regional Backbone Blackspots Program will fast-track a $250 million investment in backbone fibre optic transmission links to improve broadband competition in regional Australia.

"Rural NBN Coordinators would be assigned to regional backbone projects. They will live and work in the local community, have a sound knowledge of broadband, and be able to quickly establish strong working relationships with local governments and businesses."

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Date: 12 May 2009
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457