Community Demand Aggregation Broker

Tue, May 24, 2005; by Bill Coppinger.

Community Based Broadband Demand Aggregation Brokers Program - Round 2

On 19 May 2005, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, The Hounourable Helen Coonan, announced 11 projects that received $2.6 million in funding from the second round of the Community-based Demand Aggregation Brokers Program.

• As of Wednesday June 22nd 2005 Tenders are now OPEN for the Demand Aggregation Broker. Details can be found here
• Applications closed on Friday 8th of July 2005

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that a submission for funding of $248,000 [thousand dollars] to employ a Broadband Demand Aggregation Broker for the Shires of Macedon, Mitchell and Murrindindi Shires has been approved.

A media release can be found here.

This is consistent with the Board's "C.O.I.N's" initiative.

This is the only Victorian project to be funded in this round.

“Each broker will work with individuals, businesses, councils and other broadband users to aggregate demand in their region and then attract the best mix of broadband service providers for local needs,” Senator Coonan said.

Many individuals from across the Macedon Shire initiated this process over 18 months ago. Particular congratulations should go to Stuart Price and the BroadComm group. The LLEN has assisted in the last 6-8 months, most practically in coordinating and finalising the submission for funds.

We have had excellent and strong support from the Hon. Fran Bailey, member for McEwen and Minister for Small Business and Tourism.

Macedon Shire will be the lead agent in this initiative.

Funding is being provided under the Demand Aggregation Brokers Program to eligible regional, rural and remote organisations to recruit, employ and support the activities of a community based broadband demand aggregation broker (community broker).

Community brokers will promote awareness of the benefits of broadband services to communities, encourage take-up and aggregate demand within the local area to achieve more affordable pricing arrangements, greater choice of broadband suppliers and improved access for communities.

For more information on the second round, see the media release from DCITA.

Demand Aggregation Broker Program

The purpose of demand aggregation is to coordinate demand at a regional level so there is a viable business case for rolling out infrastructure to areas that would not otherwise receive broadband services. Public services such as health, education and local government are recognised as key focus areas for demand aggregation strategies, along with increasing community connectivity.

Demand Aggregation Brokers will work with community and sectoral leaders to encourage investment by governments, the private sector and local communities in broadband infrastructure and services. They will develop broadband markets where there may be pockets of existing or potential demand, which are either too small or too isolated to be attractive to suppliers. Demand Aggregation brokers will seek to bring this demand together to increase the purchasing power of buyers to achieve more affordable pricing arrangements, greater choice and improved access to broadband.

The program includes three core elements:

• national brokers, to focus on multi-jurisdictional broadband initiatives in targeted areas such as the health and education sectors
• state and territory based brokers, to work with governments and communities within a state or territory to develop demand aggregation projects, both across sectors and within particular geographic areas
• community based brokers, to assist communities with the development and implementation of specific broadband demand aggregation projects.  For more information see the community based brokers page.  Contact details for the Demand Aggregation Brokers can be obtained from the Australian Broadband Brokers Website.

  Demand Aggregation Programme Website

Related Links

• Background to COINs and Community Demand Aggregation Project [26 July 2005]
• COINS Initiative
• Victoria Launches "SmartOne" initiative
• Minister Thomson in Seymour - Broadband Framework

Demand Aggregation Manual

In December of 2004, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced the release of the Demand Aggregation Manual.  The Manual is a practical resource that has been designed to assist communities with the planning and implementation stages of broadband demand aggregation initiatives. The Manual includes advice on assessing infrastructure needs, seeding interest, and managing financial sustainability.

For more information contact:

The Manager
Broadband Programs
Information Economy Division
Department of Communications, IT and the Arts
Ph. [+61] 02 6271 1528
Fax: [+61] 02 6271 1780
Broadbandprograms@dcita.gov.au