nowwearetalking brings you a comprehensive summary of the major telecommunications items from the 2008-09 Federal Budget:
New broadband network
The Government will provide up to $4.7 billion to build a high speed, open access, fibre based National Broadband Network.
The new network will deliver minimum speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses. The budget impact will be dependent on the outcome of the recently commenced Request for Proposals process.
A provision for the National Broadband Network has therefore been included in the Contingency Reserve pending the determination of the successful proponent.
Communication infrastructure
The Government will create the Building Australia Fund (BAF) to help finance the current shortfall in critical economic infrastructure in transport and communications such as road, rail, ports and broadband, particularly where infrastructure requirements in these areas are not provided by the State and Territory governments or by the private sector.
Subject to final budget outcomes, the Government will commit funds to the BAF from the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Budget surpluses. With the inclusion of communications priorities within the scope of the BAF, the Government will close the Communications Fund and transfer its assets (currently valued at around $2.4 billion) to the BAF.
The BAF will also receive $2.7 billion from the Telstra 3 sale process. The BAF will meet the Government’s commitment to invest in a National Broadband Network, with disbursements dependent on the final outcome of the recently commenced Request for Proposals process and the Government’s consideration of the Glasson Review.
Broadband access
The Australian Broadband Guarantee program, which is designed to safeguard the broadband opportunities for all Australians, will receive additional funding in the 2008–09 Budget which will bring the total program funding up to $270.7 million over four years.
The extension of this program for a further four years will provide a safety net for Australians, particularly those in rural and regional Australia, who currently cannot access metro-comparable broadband services, while the Government implements longer term solutions to improve access to broadband services available for all Australians.
Australian Communications and Media Authority
ACMA funding is projected to fall from $99m in 2007-08 to $94m in 2008-09 and to $90m thereafter. Consistent with this average staffing levels are projected to fall from 555 in 2007-08 to 530 in 2008-09.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
ACCC picks up extra responsibilities around petrol and grocery prices which see projected staffing levels rise from 638 in 2007-08 to 727 in 2008-09.
The ACCC will have a key, ongoing advisory role regarding competition and pricing issues, including the provision of a formal report on NBN Proposals to the NBN Expert Panel. Changes in the communications industry provide challenges for the ACCC’s regulatory role and will require the ACCC to be kept abreast of the debate, provide technical advice as required by the government and be able to respond to regulatory changes and challenges that might emerge.
Cyber safety
The budget commits $125.8 million to a comprehensive range of cyber safety measures, including law enforcement, filtering and awareness, over the next four years.
The Government’s cyber safety funding will provide $49 million to law enforcement, ensuring that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Child Protection Operations Team can expand its capacity to detect and investigate online child abuse, with 91 additional AFP members dedicated to online child protection by 2011.
Utilities allowance
The Government has also extended eligibility for the Utilities Allowance to Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension recipients, and increased some yearly allowances: This included the Telephone Allowance which has been increased from $88 to $132 for those with an Internet connection.