The Australian government will raise the Australian Broadband Guarantee to $270.7 million over the next four years, as part of the 2008-09 Federal Budget.
Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy, said the guarantee is an adjunct to the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN), which will provide high-speed broadband to 98% of the population.
Conroy said the guarantee will provide improved broadband services for rural and regional Australians not covered by the NBN.
“It is important that all Australians have equitable access to broadband, both while the network is being rolled out and in those most remote areas that the new network may not cover,” Conroy said.
“That is why, in parallel to the NBN process, the government is separately conducting a consultation process on policy and funding initiatives to provide enhanced broadband to rural and remote areas, including those that may fall outside the new network.”
Conroy also said the specifics of the guarantee will be changed in response to industry and consumer feedback, in order to cover areas without high-speed broadband.
Consumers, small businesses of 20 or fewer full-time employees and Indigenous Community Councils can apply for the program.
