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Broadband Connect news
Important notice
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts announced the Australian Broadband Guarantee on 7 March 2007. From April 2007, the Australian Broadband Guarantee will replace the Broadband Connect Incentive program and the Metropolitan Broadband Connect program. Read more about the Australian Broadband Guarantee.
The Future of Broadband Connect
Many regional communities now enjoy greatly improved access to broadband services due to the Broadband Connect and HiBIS programs. However, there are still a number of areas (and premises) that do not have access to broadband services that are comparable in price and quality to metropolitan services in a sustainable way (that is, without the need for ongoing Australian Government subsidies).
It is also apparent that next generation broadband is becoming essential to Australia's economic and social prosperity. Services with multi-megabit capacity, able to support advanced multimedia applications and improved delivery of government services, are increasingly available in the major metropolitan areas. There is concern that the purely commercial roll-out of these services may not occur in regional and rural areas in a timely way.
In response to these issues, on 21 September 2006 the Australian Government announced an alternative approach for Broadband Connect, with the release of guidelines for the Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program after extensive industry and public consultation.
Under this program, funding support is available for a small number of major infrastructure projects of significant scale and service coverage. The Australian Government will be requiring major commercial contributions toward broadband infrastructure development as a condition of funding. The Government's intention is to support the provision of sustainable wholesale broadband services as widely as possible across the geographic areas covered under the existing Broadband Connect program in order to provide broadband access to currently under-served areas and premises.
The current Broadband Connect incentive-based model will continue during 2006–07.
Key figures
Lists of providers that have executed Deeds with the Commonwealth under the Broadband Connect Incentive Period for the Funding Period ending 30 June 2007 are available below.
Applications from companies applying to become Broadband Connect providers and/or wholesalers closed on 30 June 2006. Companies will be listed on the DCITA website as they are registered.
More than 185 000 customers have been connected to a HiBIS or Broadband Connect service. The majority of these customers are using ADSL (70.37 per cent), followed by satellite (17.13 per cent), wireless (11.65 per cent) and cable (0.85 per cent).
More than 12 000 people have registered their interest in broadband on the HiBIS/Broadband Connect demand register. This is a dynamic list, accessible by all registered Broadband Connect providers. Entries are removed once the customer is connected to a Broadband Connect service.
Liquidation of BushCom
BushCom ceased to be a HiBIS provider in December 2005 and entered liquidation in June 2006. You should call 1800 883 488 if you have any queries about your service options under Broadband Connect or wish to enquire about customer premises equipment installed by BushCom.
Data speed testing
Enex Pty Ltd has been contracted by the Department to monitor the data speed measurement facility which ensures Broadband Connect providers are meeting their service requirements. Providers are tested every month (both at random and on a targeted basis), in accordance with requirements specified in the Broadband Connect guidelines. Test results are published on the DCITA website monthly. 
Customers can also undertake their own data speed tests.
Updates to the Broadband Connect Guidelines
The Department has released a number of clarifications to the Broadband Connect Guidelines, which include:
- sections 2.3, 2.8 and 3.2.3 - eligibility of premises for Broadband Connect Services in the event of expiry of a mapped service area under the 12-month rule, and eligibility of other Service Providers for Incentive Payments in respect of Connection and Supply to those premises;
- section 3.2.7 - eligibility of new premises located on greenfields sites (e.g. new developments) established after 8 April 2004;
- section 3.5.3 and Attachment 9.2 - Change to attestation requirements, including the introduction of changes to the standard application form contained in Attachment 9.2 of the Guidelines
- section 4.6.7 - non-eligibility of a Service Provider for a new Incentive Payment when it permits a Customer to return to Broadband Connect Terms and Conditions after having moved to a service without Broadband Connect Terms and Conditions;
- section 4.13.1 - non-eligibility of Service Providers for an Incentive Payment in respect of a claim where the Service Provider has disconnected and then reconnected a customer, in order to claim an Incentive Payment where an Incentive Payment would not otherwise be payable under the 45-day rule;
- section 4.13.7 - relating to the ISDN Service Qualification Tool; and
- section 4.14.1 - Broadband Connect Provider representation.
These changes took effect on 1 December 2006. A copy of this notice may be obtained from the Broadband Connect Guidelines page.
At the same time, the Guidelines have been consolidated into a single document. This will assist readers better understand the operation of the Broadband Connect incentive program. A copy may be obtained from the Broadband Connect Guidelines page.
31 December Deadline for Lodgment of Variation Applications
In response to questions from Broadband Connect Providers, a clarification notice has been issued that provides for the following:
- Confirms for the purposes of sections 2.1 and 4.6.1.1 of the Guidelines (June 2006) (that the deadline for extensions to Service Areas is 5:00pm EST on 31 December 2006.
- Advises that where a provider is seeking to amend their Mapped Service Area, those amendments can continue to be accepted, so long as they fall within a registered service area or in a proposed new Service Area that is detailed in a new “Broadband Connect New Service Area Application Form” that has been lodged with the Department on or before 5:00pm EST on 31 December 2006.
- Confirms for the purposes of sections 2.1 and 4.12.2 of the Guidelines that Providers wishing to register new Services (wholesale and retail) must submit their “Broadband Connect Service Registration Form” by 5:00pm EST on 31 December 2006; and
- Advises that the Department will receive applications from Providers seeking to modify their existing registered Service(s) after 31 December 2006 where the modification will provide demonstrated benefits to Customers.
These matters will be contained in the revised Guidelines. A copy of the clarification notice is provided on this website on the Broadband Connect Guidelines page.
If you have any questions on these matters, please contact the Department by e-mail on bcproviders@dcita.gov.au before 5.00PM EDT Friday 22 December 2006, as the Department will be closed from that day until 2 January 2007.
Go Bush Broadband Pty Ltd
The Department has received queries as to Go Bush Broadband Pty Ltd (Go Bush) is a registered Provider under the Broadband Connect incentive program.
Go Bush is not a registered Broadband Connect Provider.
Broadband Connect incentive program—increase in funding
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, has approved additional funding of $33 million to the 2006-07 Broadband Connect incentive program for 2006-07.
The Minister has made this decision in order to enable the Incentive Program to continue during the current financial year, while decisions are being made on projects under the upcoming Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program and appropriate transitional arrangements, as applicable. Providers will be notified of decisions relating to the Infrastructure Program by June 2007. Providers will also be notified when the current incentive program funding reaches $20 million.
In order to be eligible for this additional funding, Providers will need to sign a Variation to their Funding Deed which will increase their funding cap in accordance with the additional funds. These Variations are currently being prepared and will be sent to Providers shortly.
Impact of Bushfires
As a result of the recent bushfires in south-eastern Australia, a number of Broadband Connect Providers servicing the affected (and surrounding) regions have been prevented from completing scheduled new service connections of their Broadband Connect Service(s) at customer premises located in Mapped Service Areas (as defined) where the 12-month claims period for that area are due to expire on 31 December 2006 due to either bushfires (or the risk of bushfires) in those areas.
Given this unforseen circumstance, the Department will consider, on a case-by-case basis, written requests from Providers whose installation programs have been impacted by the bushfires to extend the timeframe for lodgement of claims under the 12-month rule until 31 January 2007, subject to the Provider demonstrating that:
- it has scheduled appointments for the installation of Broadband Connect Services up until 31 December 2006; and
- the installations cannot proceed because of inability to access relevant premises or facilities due to the bushfire risk or actual bushfire(s).
The Department will consider any such requests at its sole discretion and its decision will be final.
NOTE: The proposed extension will be granted on a case-by-case basis and only in relation to Provider's Mapped Service Areas which are due to expire on 31 December 2006.
Any requests for such extensions should be e-mailed to bcproviders@dcita.gov.au as soon as possible, together with any documentary evidence (where available) and as specified above, for consideration by the Department. Requests should be made prior to COB 22 December 2006.
Christmas Shutdown
The Department's Broadband Connect office will be closed from 5.00pm AEDT on Friday 22 December 2006 to 8.30am AEDT on Tuesday 2 January 2007. Providers with any questions about applications should ensure these questions are received by the Department well in advance of the shutdown, so that timely responses where reasonably possible, can be provided. Written questions are preferred, especially for more complicated matters, and should be sent to bcproviders@dcita.gov.au.
Providers will be able to lodge Variation applications by post and e-mail during the shutdown period. Please do not send courier parcels during this period as Departmental staff will not be available to receive them.
IQ Connect
IQ Connect (a subsidiary of Regional Internet Australia also known as Rawnet) was registered as a Broadband Connect Service Provider until 30 June 2006, when its funding agreement with the Commonwealth expired. Following a comprehensive audit of the company’s activities under Broadband Connect, the Commonwealth decided not to enter into a new Funding Deed for 2006/2007. Audits are regularly undertaken under the program as an important compliance measure.
The Department and IQ Connect are currently in negotiations to resolve a dispute arising from a previous Funding Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.
In accordance with its obligations under its funding agreements, IQ Connect continues to provide services to its existing Broadband Connect customers.
There are other Internet Service Providers that offer services in the Townsville and Cairns areas. Registered Broadband Connect providers may offer Broadband Connect services to eligible premises in these areas. Customers need to make enquiries directly with those providers to determine availability.
Any customer queries in relation to the above information should be e-mailed to bcproviders@dcita.gov.au as soon as possible, together with any documentary evidence (where available) and as specified above, for consideration by the Department.
Contact
For more information on the Broadband Connect program call 1800 883 488 or email broadbandconnect@dcita.gov.au .