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Draft
guidelines to enhance Australian Broadband Guarantee
Draft guidelines to improve the Australian Broadband Guarantee were today
released by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy,
Senator Stephen Conroy.
“The Rudd Government has announced that $270.7 million will be made
available to fund the Australian Broadband Guarantee program until June 2012.
These new draft guidelines will enhance the program to ensure it delivers a
higher level of broadband service and provides better protection for consumers,” Senator
Conroy said.
Click Here
Australian
Broadband Guarantee funding until 2012
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy, Senator the
Hon Stephen Conroy, today announced an extension of the Australian Broadband
Guarantee program to safeguard the broadband opportunities for all Australians,
while the Government continues to implement its broader broadband policy agenda.
The Australian Broadband Guarantee program will receive additional funding
in the 2008-09 Budget which will bring the total program. funding up to $270.7
million over four years.
Click Here
Broadband for Seniors
The Government will provide $15.0 million over three years from 2008-09 to allow
up to 2,000 community organisations to purchase desktop computers and broadband
connections in order to run free internet workshops for seniors and provide them
with free access to the internet. Grants of up to $10,000 will be available for
these organisations to expand access to the internet for senior Australians.
This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment.
Improving Australia's infrastructure
The Government will establish the Building Australia Fund (BAF) to provide a
financing source for future investment in critical economic infrastructure in
transport and communications such as road, rail, port facilities and broadband.
The Government will also close the Communications Fund and transfer its balance to the BAF. The Government will commit funds from the 2007-08 and 2008-09 surpluses, once realised, to the BAF bringing total funding of the BAF to $20.0 billion. A proportion of future surpluses may be allocated to the fund as appropriate. The Fund will be established by 1 January 2009 and be managed by the Future Fund Board of Guardians.
Future disbursements from the fund will be subject to budget consideration, and will be spent responsibly, in line with the prevailing macroeconomic conditions. Spending from the fund on specific projects will be subject to rigorous evaluation. With the exception of funding for the National Broadband Network, drawdowns from the BAF will not occur before 2009-10. It is expected that funding of $400.0 million will also be available for regional telecommunications, subject to the Government’s consideration of the Glasson Review.
The Building Australia Fund will be established by 1 January 2009.
- Based on current estimates, the Building Australia Fund will receive $20 billion over the next two years to fund shortfalls in national transport (roads, rails and ports) and broadband.
- The Communications Fund
will be closed and its assets of $2.4 billion transferred to the BAF.
$4.7 billion from the BAF for a National Broadband Network that will offer high speed broadband to 98 per cent of Australian households and businesses. - $22.3 billion in land transport infrastructure from 2009-10 to 2013-14 under AusLink 2, including $2.6 billion to projects in Victoria and $2.5 billion to upgrade the Pacific c Highway in New South Wales.
- $271 million over four years to fund the Australian Broadband Guarantee, which will ensure all Australians, particularly those in regional and rural areas, have equitable access to metro-comparable broadband services.
- Continue the Remote Air Service Subsidy Scheme, at a cost of $25 million over four years, to provide 239 remote and isolated communities with services including transport, medicines and fresh food.
ACMA
Consultation on the Emergency Call Service Determination
ACMA
has asked ATUG for an URGENT response to its consultation
on the Emergency Call Service Determination which removed the obligation
for CSPs to
carry calls to the emergency call service (ECS) from mobile
telephones without
a unique service identifying number (USIN) (commonly referred
to as SIM-less calls). ACMA's preliminary position is that a deferral of
up to
four
months in the commencement date for the Amending Determination,
i.e. no later than 19 September 2008, would be a prudent next step. During
any such deferral period, ACMA will continue to work with
CSPs and
mobile phone handset manufacturers to address the circumstances
identified and
seek to resolve technical difficulties. A deferral would
also provide more time to examine a separate issue relating to the termination
message
or tone proposed for use for SIM-less calls. ATUG members
can make commently directly to Melissa
O’Brien by
10 am on Thursday 15 May 2008. Melissa can be contacted on
03 9963 6774 for any queries. The background statement for
consultation is available
at http://www.atug.com.au/other/ACMABSC130508.pdf
National
Broadband Networks Proposals
Government
invites National Broadband Network proposals - 25 July
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy,
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, today announced the release of the Request for
Proposals
(RFP) to roll-out and operate the National Broadband Network.
Click
Here
National Broadband
Network Request for submissions on regulatory issues - 25 June
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Hon
Stephen Conroy today invited industry and public interest groups to provide
submissions on regulatory issues associated with the National Broadband Network.
Click
Here
Call for submissions
on broadband solutions for remote areas - 30 June
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator
the Hon Stephen Conroy, has today called for submissions on policy and funding
initiatives to provide enhanced broadband to rural and remote areas.
Click
Here
Public comment sought on National Broadband Network - 17 March 2008
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy,
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, today invited industry and the public to provide
submissions that will assist in the development of the National Broadband Network
Request for Proposals. "Interested individuals, organisations and companies
are invited to provide submissions that will inform the Panel of Experts," Senator
Conroy said.
Click
Here
NBN Regulation PhD study
"Wireline
telecommunications infrastructure in the customer access network or CAN is
undergoing a veritable technological and commercial revolution. The paired-copper
CAN is being modernised with optical fibre deployment ever closer to customers,
culminating soon with fibre-to-the-home networks or some variant thereof.
Although bandwidth ceases to be a scarce commodity, the underlying natural
monopoly will most likely be strengthened.
This research asks the question: What are the factors that prevent open access
to the broadband services of next generation wireline infrastructure? How can
these obstacles be overcome? A particular focus is given to non-price considerations
which come to the foredue to the unique strategic and technological characteristics
of optical fibre in the access network."
A few highlights of the study findings applying to (post-PSTN) ‘next
generation’ broadband infrastructure include:
· Access regulation is ill-equipped to cope with optical fibre in the access
network until it also recognizes the strategic potential of such infrastructure;
· Dominant players should never be rewarded with access holidays; and
· Communication between users should be recognised as the prime purpose of telecommunications.The
full study is at http://www.rosskelso.com/acrobat_documents/Kelso_PhD.pdf
20
APR 2008: AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT - INITIAL SUMMIT REPORT Click Here
19
APR 2008: TRANSCRIPT OF OPENING REMARKS TO AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT,
PARLIAMENT HOUSE: Goals
of 2020 Summit, World in 1996 & today, Ten core challenges for the
future. Click Here
OPEL
Contract
02 APR 2008: SINGTEL: Australian
Government Advises Termination of OPEL Contract. Click Here
02 APR 2008: CONROY: OPEL Networks
Funding Agreement not to proceed. Click Here
02 APR 2008: BILLSON: BUSH THE VICTIM OF CONROY'S OPEL CULL
- People of rural, regional & remote Australia have every reason
to be deeply concerned & disappointed about reports Labor Government
has cancelled contracts for OPEL project. Click Here
02 APR 2008: JOYCE: Unfortunate Reality of Labor Fibre - First
real delivery by Conroy, was not to improve services, but to remove services
to remote
and regional Australia. Click Here
02 April 2008: Telstra
Country Wide Group Managing Director, Mr Geoff Booth, today welcomed the decision
by the new Federal Government
to terminate the Broadband Connect
Infrastructure Funding granted to the SingTel Optus/Elders joint venture OPEL.
Click Here
ATUG Statement on OPEL cancellation. Click Here
ATUG 2008 Summary
ATUG
2008 was a great success. With over 100 delegates coming over the two days,
there was energetic and interesting
debate of the major topics at hand.
With international presence from the OECD, BT Global , TUANZ and Axia NetMedia
(Canada) and local updates from the Minister, Shadow Minister, ACCC and
ACMA, all areas were covered in depth with the latest information on everything “communications”.
For copies of the speakers’ presentations Click
Here
For Conference Photos Click Here
For Gala Dinner Photos Click Here
ATUG 2008
Award Winners
The winners of the 2008 ATUG are listed here. Click
Here for the full media release
ATUG’s Submission to the Expert Taskforce in August 2007 commenting on
the Guidelines for High Speed Broadband Network Infrastructure Proposals – 29
August 2007
Click Here
Panel of Experts
The Minister
for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen
Conroy, today
announced the Panel of Experts to assess proposals
to build the National Broadband Network. The Panel will be chaired by the Secretary
of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Ms
Patricia Scott. The other members
of the panel are:
John Wylie, Lazard Carnegie Wylie CEO.
Tony Mitchell, Allphones Chairman.
Laureate Professor Rod Tucker, University of Melbourne.
Professor Emeritus of Communications, Reg Coutts, University of Adelaide.
Tony Shaw, former Australian Communications Authority Chairman.
Dr Ken Henry AC, Treasury Secretary.
Click
Here
ATUG 2008 – Axia Presentation on fibre developments in Canada, France
and Singapore
The common attribute
across these three break-through
implementations: “Put
the NGN fibre grid in a no-conflict open access business model by separating
ownership."
Click Here
Summary of the Discussion at ATUG 2008 about the structural arrangements
needed for the NBN
Click Here
Presentation of the industry vision report on the NBN
At the BuddeComm
Roundtable in October Senator Conroy had promised the industry that if Labor
were to win the election he would invite us to come
back to him
with an industry vision on his plans for a National Broadband Network (NBN).
That report was presented to the Minister on 6 March 2008. The report can be
downloaded
from the Buddecom
site
Government announces Panel of Experts to assess National Broadband Network
proposals - 11 March 2008
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital
Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, today announced the Panel of Experts
to assess proposals
to build the National Broadband Network. Click Here
ATUG
Broadband Awards
Last year saw the inaugural ATUG Broadband
Awards. The awards scheme was very successful with
many organisations getting the opportunity to
display
their hard work improving business and
the community by using broadband in new and innovative
ways. In 2008, ATUG are looking to expand on the success of the 2007 Awards
and ask everyone
to nominate for the awards. Submissions for the
awards have now closed.
ATUG 2008 Focus Policies
Every year ATUG releases its Focus Policies. For this year's policies
please Click
Here
Sky Business News
Podcast
Helen Dalley’s program on Sunday Business (18/11) was a discussion
was with Tony Warren, Tim Smeallie and David Tudehope on the G9’s plan to
build a high speed broadband network compared to a similar rival plan from
Telstra. For ATUG the important issues in this debate are not whether fibre
is the right technology – IT IS, or whether open access is needed - IT IS
but at what price and with what consequences for competition and consumers.
The task for the next Minister as ATUG sees it will be to deliver affordable
broadband services that reflect competitive, not monopoly, margins. Whoever
is in power will need the support of an independent regulator focused on
the key issue – the long-term interests of end users.
Hear the discussion by podcasting it to your PC. The
relevant
discussion begins at 2mins
25sec
To find out more on how to podcast, Click
Here
The SKYNews Podcast can be found
here
ATUG Submission to the Expert Terms of Reference Workshop
ATUG’s views are based on the needs and views of business,
government and community users who rely on communications
technologies to achieve
their goals.
ATUG is keen to see continued co-operation between
Federal, State and Local Governments and between
government and
industry in
the development
of Australia’s
communications capability. A number of State
and Local Governments are advanced in strategies
and
plans to
encourage the development
of high-speed
broadband networks for their communities and
agencies. The Guidelines should provide opportunities
for
a number of proposals
to emerge.
A number of Federal agencies – DoHA, DEST, AGIMO are examples – are
also focused on plans for future service delivery
which rely on fast broadband. The Taskforce Guidelines
should
build
on this work.
For the full ATUG submission Click Here
BroadbandNow
is a new customer information service to help consumers access broadband,
the options available to them and how to get connected. http://www.broadbandnow.gov.au/
BroadbandNow
BroadbandNow has information for consumers on broadband issues such as:
- obtaining access
to broadband;
- availability of
broadband service options in specific local areas;
- what the
various available technologies mean for consumers; and
- the eligibility
for Australian Government assistance under programs
such as the Australian Broadband Guarantee.
The OPEL Network
Indicative Coverage maps are at http://www.broadbandnow.gov.au/opel-map.htm
OPEL’s
national wireless broadband network will cover almost
9.5 million premises across Australia, offering broadband
speeds initially
up to 6Mbps, increasing to up to 12Mbps by 30 June,
2009. The
network will comprise 1361 new state of the art
wireless broadband ‘WiMAX’ sites.
Each premises within the reach of this network will receive the full
suite of high quality, next generation broadband (and other) services
being offered by OPEL. As
a result of broadband signals reaching 20km from a broadband ‘WiMAX
site, the Opel wireless network
will reach many broadband
blackspots in
outer metropolitan
areas.
In addition,
OPEL will deliver 1.9 million
premises in regional areas
access to even faster speeds
of up to
20Mbps by enabling
an additional
312 exchanges with ADSL2+
broadband. Optus is enabling
a further
114 ADSL2+ exchanges
on a
commercial
basis.
This
will provide Australia
with a total of 426 new ADSL2+
exchanges.
SCAMwatch – the campaign portal for the Australasian
Consumer Fraud Taskforce. SCAMwatch is a site to help recognise, report
and protect yourself from scams. Explore SCAMwatch to find out more about
the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce and the scams that target you
or your small business. You can also take part in the Australian Institute
of Criminology’s scam survey.
Information
for members on Telstra 3G offerings
For more information on the NEXT G network and fact sheets on pricing plans,
coverage, content and data speeds, Click Here
25 Year History of
ATUG
ATUG is celebrating its 25th year anniversary in 2006 with the release
of the 25 year history of ATUG booklet. Click Here to read on...
ATUG Members Directory
The ATUG Members Directory is a new initiative to help members locate
one another when they need help, guidance or advice on telecommunications
issues. To participate in the directory, your company needs to be
a financial member of ATUG and have filled in the online application
form. Click Here for
more information.
ATUG Monthly Meetings
- Australia Wide
ATUG has a very active, state based representation which meet every
month to discuss topical issues that are of interest to all who are
in the telecoms industry. These are a free of charge event and are
a great networking opportunity with the leaders of our dynamic industry.
Also, these meetings are open to ATUG members and non -members. Click
Here for more information, including a events list sign
on.
ATUG
Events Archive
This is an archive of past ATUG events, which include presentations, photos
and event information. Click
Here
ATUG Membership
Kits
If you would like to receive a membership kit, which includes all information
regarding becoming a member of ATUG, Click
Here
ATUG Opinion
Written by Rosemary Sinclair, Managing Director of ATUG, the Opinion highlights
a topical issue in telecommunications. To view the latest ATUG Opinion, Click
Here
ATUG Benchmarking Service
The concept behind benchmarking is to provide participants with an external
frame of reference to compare their use of telecommunications services
with other like
organisations. Take control of your company’s phone costs! Learn
more...
ATUG has moved Offices
Suite 506, Level 5, 815 Pacific Highway, Chatswood NSW 2067
Telephone: 02 9495 8999 Facsimile: 02 9419 3889