Australian Broadband Guarantee Extended

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, announced [on the 13th of May] an extension of the Australian Broadband Guarantee program to safeguard the broadband opportunities for all Australians, while the Government continues to implement its broader broadband policy agenda.

The Australian Broadband Guarantee program 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 Australian Broadband Guarantee has played an important role in ensuring high-quality, equitable broadband access for the more remote areas of Australia,” Senator Conroy said.

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.

“The Australian Government is committed to providing Australians with access to high quality broadband services, no matter where they live or work,” Senator Conroy said.

“A key plank of the Government’s strategy is the Government’s commitment to establish a National Broadband Network (NBN) to provide high-speed broadband services to 98 per cent of premises and businesses.”

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Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy