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Australia’s current Labor government has refused to compromise on its goal of delivering super-fast broadband service to nearly every Australian, declaring they will get the job done no matter what it takes.
“This government is determined to build a national broadband network and will not let anything get in its way,” declared Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Rudd was responding to critics from opposition political parties and some private providers who had been trying to throw up roadblocks to stop the government effort, which many private providers felt ceded too much control to the government.
Rudd’s plans to construct the network were bolstered with the release of a new study showing the construction and operating costs to be lower than previously thought.
Stephen Conroy
Lindsay Tanner, Australia’s Finance Minister, told colleagues, “The government would get its investment back and also, over the course of the investment, earn a modest return.”
Stephen Conroy, Communications Minister, promised wholesale pricing for the unlimited fiber-based service would range between $17.50-26.30US per month. Retail pricing for entry-level ADSL broadband service from Telstra currently runs $35US per month, with a 2 GB monthly usage allowance.
Conroy previously threatened Telstra that if it didn’t want to help build the national network at a reasonable price, the government would do it themselves.
Tony Smith, opposition Shadow Communications Minister called Rudd’s insistence on a national fiber network reckless, irresponsible, and risky.
But for Australian consumers long subjected to expensive monthly prices for heavily usage limited service, 100Mbps service — or even slower, unlimited service — represents a major improvement.
http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Network 10 Aus Cheap Broadband 6-21-10.flvThe Ten Network in Australia ran this report on the current Australian government’s unwillingness to compromise away its goal for a national fiber network. (2 minutes)
http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Nine Australia National Broadband Plan Study 5-6-10.flv
Channel Nine reports on the release of the broadband study showing Australia would save money building their own national broadband network instead of letting Telstra build it. (1 minute)
Other stories of interest:
- Australia: 90 Percent of Our Residents Will Have 100Mbps, Fiber to the Home Service Within 8 Years
- Australian Government Buys Telstra’s Copper Wire Landline Network to Scrap It
- Wall Street Journal Does Hit Piece on Australia’s National Broadband Plan — Hint, Hint to American Policymakers
- Arguing for the End of Usage Caps in Australia: Revolting Against Internet Overcharging
- New Zealand Embarks on National Broadband Plan — Publicly Owned Fiber Network Will Bring Relief to Many
If we did this the Washington Post would print Pete Peterson’s Fiscal Times astroturf “won’t somebody think of the deficit”
It always amazes me that the same people who complain endlessly about the deficit were myopically-silent during the previous administration. When it comes to solving that deficit crisis, some of these same legislators target unemployment benefits and health care subsidies, completely ignoring the big money corporate welfare, overseas adventures (a/k/a unnecessary wars) and other elephants in the room like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.
The Washington Post editorial page went beltway-native years ago, but these days sounds like it is staffed with ex-Bush Administration officials.
Having our own family deal first hand with unemployment for a good part of the first half of this year, I can testify that the concept of unemployed people just sitting back and living fat and large on those weekly unemployment checks and COBRA subsidies is about as real as Ronald Reagan’s Cadillac-driving welfare queen… or Bigfoot.
Being unemployed in this economy is pure hell, emotionally and practically. At the same time one tries to figure out how to keep the bills paid and the health insurance active, last minute tricks and traps from the credit card industry, rate hike demands from utilities, and tax hike proposals that bring costs even higher for the middle class already under water, only adds to the stress.
Getting a weekly subsidy for less than $450 (before taxes) and a COBRA discount that still meant nearly $500 a month of unemployment subsidies would go just for health care is hardly living life fancy-free, especially in New York State.
I don’t want billions of tax dollars spent on an all-fiber network with no chance of recouping that investment. Australia didn’t either. The only thing holding back most providers from installing fiber is the return on investment expectations. If the government could tolerate a 10-25 year time frame to recoup that investment, we’d be on the way for better service for everyone.
I’d completely and fully support such a project across america to build a fiber infrastructure and then lease access out to any company willing to provide internet service over it. If we’re going to continue along our current path allowing these virtual monopolies of Cable companies and Telco’s there’s no better option to spur competition and see that all Americans are provided fair and quality access to the internet.
To see Australia’s government take this stand is just amazing to me, bravo.