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Metropolitan Broadband Blackspots Program
Australians who live in the city, yet cannot access broadband services as cheaply as their fellow city-dwellers, may soon be helped by a new Australian Government program.
The $50 million Metropolitan Broadband Blackspots Program (MBBP) will help Internet service providers (ISPs) supply broadband at prices comparable across all metropolitan areas of Australia.
The program will target areas where problems with network infrastructure make it unlikely that affordable broadband will be made available commercially in the near future.
The program complements the Government's successful Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) program. HiBIS has helped more than 400 communities in regional, rural and remote areas obtain broadband services costing about the same as prices in the city.
The MBBP program's first step has been to release a discussion paper inviting feedback from industry stakeholders and others. ISPs are encouraged to participate.
An online demand register is being established where potential customers can express an interest in obtaining broadband under the program. There will be online maps where people can find out if their area will qualify them under the program.
It is intended that MBBP services will be available to customers from early 2006.
Visit www.dcita.gov.au/tel to find out more information about the program and to read the discussion paper.