more funds for regional and remote telecomms

... whirlpool.net.au .....
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25143691-15306,00.html .............. see mid-story .....
... Mitchell Bingemann | March 05, 2009

... THE federal Government will allocate around $60 million across three projects to develop and enhance telecommunications infrastructure for Australians living in regional and remote areas.

The investment accounts for 15 per cent of a $400 million kitty the Government set aside for the development of telecommunications infrastructure in regional areas as part of the Building Australia Fund.

The initial round of funding has been made available following recommendations from the Regional Telecommunications Review (RTR) which was chaired by Bill Glasson, former federal president of the Australian Medical Association.

The report was presented to the Government last September.

In total the RTR highlighted 45 recommendations that needed to be addressed to rectify “the failures of the previous Government to deal with deficient regional telecommunications,” Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.

The projects will run for four years each.

As part of the initial response package, $46 million will be invested in the Digital Regions Initiative to fund technology projects that support education, health and emergency services in regional and remote communities.

The Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme will receive $11.4 million in new funding to increase and extend subsidies available for handset costs. Subsidies will be increased to 85 per cent from the current 60 per cent.

The remaining $3.7 million will be added to the $30 million Indigenous Communications Program that aims to improve telecommunications services and basic public internet access for remote Indigenous communities.

“These initiatives are a ‘down-payment’ on the Government’s overall and continued approach to sustainable regional telecommunications development,” Senator Conroy said.

“The Government has a strong commitment to ensure that people outside of metropolitan Australia can access and benefit from high-quality communications services.”

The Government will partner with state, territory and local governments to fund the projects.

The remainder of about $340 million in funding would be allocated to more projects once the Government’s plan for its $15 billion national broadband network were finalised, he said.