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Networking the Nation

All funds have been allocated and the program has now been completed.

The Australian Government established the Networking the Nation (NTN) program in June 1997. The program assisted the economic and social development of rural Australia by funding projects which:

enhance telecommunications infrastructure and services
increase access to, and promote use of, services available through telecommunications networks
reduce disparities in access to such services and facilities.

In addition, NTN operated during a period of rapid change in Australian communications. The program contributed to the rapid expansion in mobile telephone services, the large increase in internet literacy, and the delivery of government, business and consumer services online. Around $322.5 million in funding was allocated to 762 projects across regional, rural and remote Australian under the NTN Program.

In 1999 the Government announced an increase of $174 million in NTN funding from the Social Bonus following the further sale of Telstra. The additional funds were allocated to a range of programs targeting particular communications in regional Australia.

Building Additional Rural Networks ($70 million)
Local Government Fund ($45 million)
Internet Access Fund ($36 million)
Remote and Isolated Islands Fund ($20 million)
Extended Mobile Telephone Coverage in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania ($3 million)

In the context of the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry uncommitted BARN funds have been redirected to new initiatives under the RTI charter.