Issue: 11/08

National Broadband Network Proposals

March 26, 2008

The Australian Government has committed to provide up to $4.7 billion and to consider necessary regulatory changes to facilitate the roll-out of a new open access, high-speed, fibre-based broadband network, providing speeds of at least 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses. Construction of the Network is expected to begin by the end of 2008.

The Minister has announced the Panel of Experts to assess proposals to build the National Broadband Network.
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The Panel is 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.

The Minister has now 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.”

“I have asked the Panel of Experts to provide me with advice that will assist in the development of the Request for Proposals documentation for the National Broadband Network process.”

“I am sure there are a number of individuals and organisations that are interested in the Australian broadband market and that will be able to provide informed submissions to aid in the panel's consideration of the issues.”

“The Government values their input to this very important process, which will secure Australia's digital future for many years to come,” Senator Conroy said.

Written submissions should be provided to the panel by 30 March 2008, and can be forwarded by email to nationalbroadbandnetwork@dbcde.gov.au

Submissions may be published and made publicly available online.

Further information on the National Broadband Network process and Panel of Experts is available on the website of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy at www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork

ATUG responded in August 2007 to the earlier Expert Taskforce with a range of issues and interests. This response is available here

ATUG is interested in members views in preparing our submission to the Panel of Experts. ATUG encourages members to make their own submissions as well directly to nationalbroadbandnetwork@dbcde.gov.au

The timeframe is very short as submissions are required by 30th March. Please email any comments to rosemary.sinclair@atug.org.au